The influence of psychological climate for caring and perceived insider status on the relationship between managerial caring and positive employee well-being

Abstract

Learning the factors that positively impact employee well-being is not a new stream of study. The care and support provided by managers can influence employees’ motivation and overall well-being. The positive emotional environment created by a caring climate can significantly impact how individuals feel and function in their professional lives. Additionally, perceived insider status, which reflects a sense of belonging and integration, can positively affect self-esteem and well-being. Social identity theory posits that positive well-being occurs when individual employees feel that they are surrounded by a climate of care signaled by the direct manager and overall employee acceptance within the organization, which ultimately influences their overall positive well-being. This study collected data from 197 employees working in the service sector in different industries within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through survey questionnaires using a convenience sampling technique. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) version 4 was used to analyze the dataset and test the hypotheses. The results indicate that managerial caring relates positively to positive employee well-being. Furthermore, a psychological climate of care and perceived insider status serially mediate the relationship between managerial caring and positive employee well-being. Thus, this study offers new insights into the importance of managerial care in employees’ positive well-being within their organizations, as well as the caring model among managers and employees. Managers who show and develop an atmosphere of care toward employees enhance their positive well-being.