Newcomers’ relationship-building behavior, mentor information sharing and newcomer adjustment: The moderating effects of perceived mentor and newcomer deep similarity

Zheng, Yuyan; Zheng, Xiaotong (Janey); Wu, Chia-Huei; Yao, Xiang; Wang, Yi

doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103519

Newcomers’ relationship-building behavior, mentor information sharing and newcomer adjustment: The moderating effects of perceived mentor and newcomer deep similarity

Zheng, Yuyan; Zheng, Xiaotong (Janey); Wu, Chia-Huei; Yao, Xiang; Wang, Yi

Authors

Dr Janey Zheng xiaotong.zheng@durham.ac.uk
Associate Professor

Chia-Huei Wu

Xiang Yao

Yi Wang

Abstract

Drawing on similarity-attraction theory, we propose that relationship-building behaviors from newcomers are more positively related to information-sharing behaviors from mentors when they perceive a deep similarity with the newcomers, and that mentors' information sharing is likely to be well received by newcomers when they perceive a deep similarity with their mentors. We also hypothesize that newcomers' perceived mentor information sharing is positively associated with newcomer adjustment (i.e., role clarity and job performance). A time-lagged study with a total of 99 newcomers and their mentors was conducted within three months of newcomers entering the company. The results support our hypotheses, suggesting that perceived deep similarity is a key factor that associates with the effectiveness of newcomers' proactivity and mentors' information sharing behavior in newcomer adjustment.

Citation

Zheng, Y., Zheng, X. (., Wu, C., Yao, X., & Wang, Y. (2021). Newcomers’ relationship-building behavior, mentor information sharing and newcomer adjustment: The moderating effects of perceived mentor and newcomer deep similarity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 125, Article 103519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103519

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Nov 16, 2020
Online Publication Date	Dec 11, 2020
Publication Date	2021-03
Deposit Date	Nov 18, 2020
Publicly Available Date	Dec 11, 2022
Journal	Journal of Vocational Behavior
Print ISSN	0001-8791
Publisher	Elsevier
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	125
Article Number	103519
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103519
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1250684

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Copyright Statement
© 2020 This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/