Supervision and Job Performance in Social Workers in China: Mediation Effect of Burnout and Work Engagement

Objective: Supervision is a crucial practice in the social work profession, providing professional and emotional support for social workers. Studies, primarily based in Western countries, have shown that supervision improves work capacity and reduces stress in social workers. However, few studies have examined the effects of supervision on job performance and potential mediators in the relation in social workers in China. Method: Data were from an online survey of 489 Chinese social workers. We used structural equation modeling to examine the effects of supervision on job performance and whether engagement and burnout mediated that relationship. Results: Findings indicate that satisfaction with supervision significantly affects burnout and work engagement, both of which fully mediated the relationship between supervision and job performance. However, the magnitude of the estimates was relatively small. Conclusion: Findings emphasize the significance of supervision as a resource to decrease burnout and improve work engagement and job performance. More supervisory support is needed for social workers who face high job demands in China.