Perceptions of support trickle down: Effects on energetic resourcesvia psychological empowerment

Supervisor perceptions of support are key, as they can influence their subordinates’perceptions of support and well-being. Using a weekly diary data set of subordi-nates and their supervisors in Chile, we tested a trickle-down effect of perceivedsupervisor support across three hierarchical levels: upper managers, supervisors,and non-managerial employees. Drawing on the conservation of resources (COR)and social exchange theories as well as crossover research, we find that our model islargely supported. The findings revealed that supervisors’ perceived support frommanagers (PMS) relates to subordinates’ perceptions of support from their ownsupervisors (PSS). In turn, subordinates’ PSS is positively associated with their emo-tional resource possession and sleep quality. Beyond these relationships, subordi-nates’ psychological empowerment mediates the positive relationships betweensubordinates’ PSS and their emotional resources as well as sleep quality. These find-ings suggest that supervisors who feel supported reciprocate with the more support-ive treatment of subordinates, which likely enhances psychological empowerment,in turn driving the accumulation of emotional and physical resources.