Supervisor negative feedback, subordinate prevention focus and performance: testing a mediation model

The present study sought to establish and verify a mediating model to investigate the different effects of supervisor negative feedback on subordinate in-role and extra-role performance, and the mediating role of prevention focus in these relationships. A three-wave survey research design was applied to collect data from 356 Chinese employees and their immediate supervisors working at two manufacturing companies. Structural equation model was used to test the research hypotheses. The results indicated that supervisor negative feedback was positively correlated with subordinate prevention focus and in-role performance, but negatively correlated with extra-role performance. Additionally, prevention focus partially mediated the relationship between supervisor negative feedback and subordinate in-role performance, but did not mediate the relationship between supervisor negative feedback and subordinate extra-role performance. These results demonstrate the importance of supervisor feedback in affecting their subordinate regulatory focus, in-role performance and extra-role performance.