The role of supervisor emotional support on individual job satisfaction: A multilevel analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Supervisor emotional support is a strong determinant of job satisfaction. There is no study examining the effect of supervisor emotional support at the group level on job satisfaction. Multilevel statistical techniques can help disentangle the effects of subjective assessments from those of group factors.


AIM
The study's aim was to examine the moderating role of supervisor emotional support (group-level variable) on the relationship between work engagement and job satisfaction (individual-level variables).


METHOD
A cross-sectional study was performed in 39units from three Belgian hospitals. A total of 323 nurses completed a self-reported questionnaire. We carried out a multilevel analysis by using Hierarchical Linear Modeling.


RESULTS
The results showed that the cross-level interaction was significant. Hence, at individual-level, the nurses with high levels of work engagement showed high levels of job satisfaction and this relationship was stronger when supervisor emotional support at group-level was high.


CONCLUSIONS
Contextual differences among groups had an impact on the form of the work engagement-job satisfaction relationship. This relationship between work engagement and job satisfaction is an individual and group level phenomenon. Ways to enhance emotional supervisor support include training supervisors in providing support and enhancing communication between nurses and supervisors.
['Pohl|Sabine|S|', 'Galletta|Maura|M|']
D000288:Administrative Personnel D000328:Adult D001530:Belgium D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004644:Emotions D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007588:Job Satisfaction D008297:Male D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital D024382:Professional Role D012944:Social Support
Supervisor emotional support Job satisfaction Multilevel analysis Work engagement Nurses