Influence of Guanxi on Job Satisfaction in China: Xinren as a Mediator

Abstract

Research has shown that Chinese guanxi (private relationships/networks based on Chinese culture, which allow to obtain social resources informally and privately) are related to job searching and work-related outcomes such as job match and job satisfaction. However, few studies have examined the correlation between the sub-dimensions of guanxi and job satisfaction. With a sample of 267 respondents from different Chinese companies, this study divided guanxi research into two stages (the renqing & ganqing guanxi used for job-searching processes and the supervisor-subordinate guanxi used for on-thejob processes) and examined the mediating effect of xinren on guanxi and job satisfaction by using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analysis. The results showed that guanxi was positively related to job satisfaction, and xinren partly mediated these correlations. Our findings extend previous research on the effects of guanxi on job outcomes and may be used as an exploratory guide to manage employee satisfaction.

Keywords

• guanxi
• xinren
• supervisor-subordinate guanxi
• trust in supervisor
• job satisfaction