The inverted U-shaped relationship between Supervisor-Subordinate Guanxi and proactive career behavior: From cross-boundary perspective

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.0130

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ZHONG Jie, NI Dan, ZHENG Xiaoming, MA Chao. (2026). The inverted U-shaped relationship between Supervisor-Subordinate Guanxi and proactive career behavior: From cross-boundary perspective. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 58(1), 130-150.

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URL: https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.0130

https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/EN/Y2026/V58/I1/130

Figures/Tables 9

Table 1 Descriptive statistics and correlations in Study 3

	M	SD	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1. Age	1.46	0.50	-
2. Gender	31.97	6.03	0.05	-
3. Education	4.92	0.65	0.06	-0.22^**	-
4. Tenure with leader	4.47	3.32	0.07	0.39^**	-0.12	-
5. Work tenner	6.36	4.62	-0.02	0.73^**	-0.26^**	0.56^**	-
6. LMX	4.10	0.45	0.03	0.01	-0.04	-0.08	-0.01	-
7. Proactive personality	4.06	0.57	0.15^*	-0.11	-0.02	-0.09	-0.15^*	0.56^**	-
8. SSG	3.87	0.64	0.02	0.07	0.01	-0.03	0.02	0.67^**	0.54^**	-
9. Occupational future time perspective	4.20	0.49	0.13^*	-0.15^*	0.01	-0.08	-0.22^**	0.50^**	0.50^**	0.44^**	-
10. Organizational support for employee development	4.18	0.58	0.15^*	0.08	0.04	0.09	0.10	0.53^**	0.37^**	0.46^**	0.46^**	-
11. Career intrusion	2.22	0.98	-0.04	0.01	-0.02	-0.04	0.10	-0.19^**	-0.15^*	-0.10	-0.18^**	-0.08	-
12. Proactive career behavior	4.23	0.63	0.01	-0.09	0.03	0.04	-0.09	0.06	0.02	-0.04	0.01	0.01	-0.48^**

Table 1 Descriptive statistics and correlations in Study 3

	M	SD	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1. Age	1.46	0.50	-
2. Gender	31.97	6.03	0.05	-
3. Education	4.92	0.65	0.06	-0.22^**	-
4. Tenure with leader	4.47	3.32	0.07	0.39^**	-0.12	-
5. Work tenner	6.36	4.62	-0.02	0.73^**	-0.26^**	0.56^**	-
6. LMX	4.10	0.45	0.03	0.01	-0.04	-0.08	-0.01	-
7. Proactive personality	4.06	0.57	0.15^*	-0.11	-0.02	-0.09	-0.15^*	0.56^**	-
8. SSG	3.87	0.64	0.02	0.07	0.01	-0.03	0.02	0.67^**	0.54^**	-
9. Occupational future time perspective	4.20	0.49	0.13^*	-0.15^*	0.01	-0.08	-0.22^**	0.50^**	0.50^**	0.44^**	-
10. Organizational support for employee development	4.18	0.58	0.15^*	0.08	0.04	0.09	0.10	0.53^**	0.37^**	0.46^**	0.46^**	-
11. Career intrusion	2.22	0.98	-0.04	0.01	-0.02	-0.04	0.10	-0.19^**	-0.15^*	-0.10	-0.18^**	-0.08	-
12. Proactive career behavior	4.23	0.63	0.01	-0.09	0.03	0.04	-0.09	0.06	0.02	-0.04	0.01	0.01	-0.48^**

Table 2 Analysis results 1 in Study 3

Variables	Proactive career behavior
Variables	Model 1 B (SE)	Model 2 B (SE)	Model 3 B (SE)	Model 4 B (SE)	Model 5 B (SE)	Model 6 B (SE)
Intercept	4.24^*** (0.59)	3.57^*** (0.72)	3.33^*** (0.71)	2.99^*** (0.70)	3.18^*** (0.72)	3.10^*** (0.72)
1. Age	0.01 (0.08)	0.004 (0.08)	0.01 (0.08)	0.01 (0.08)	0.02 (0.08)	0.01 (0.08)
Gender	-0.02 (0.01)	-0.02 (0.01)	-0.02 (0.01)	-0.01 (0.01)	-0.01 (0.01)	-0.01 (0.01)
Education	0.02 (0.06)	0.03 (0.06)	0.05 (0.06)	0.07 (0.06)	0.06 (0.06)	0.06 (0.06)
4. Tenure with leader	0.01 (0.02)	0.01 (0.02)	0.01 (0.01)	0.02 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.02 (0.01)
5. Work tenner	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)
Proactive personality	-0.02 (0.09)	0.02 (0.09)	0.04 (0.09)	0.14 (0.09)	0.14 (0.09)	0.17 (0.09)
LMX	0.11 (0.11)	0.21 (0.13)	0.24 (0.13)	0.20 (0.12)	0.18 (0.13)	0.15 (0.13)
SSG		-0.14 (0.09)	-0.32^** (0.10)	-0.24^* (0.10)	-0.23^* (0.10)	-0.19 (0.10)
SSG×SSG			-0.34^** (0.10)	-0.39 (0.10)	-0.41^*** (0.11)	-0.38^** (0.11)
Occupational future time perspective				0.29^* (0.12)		0.20 (0.13)
SSG×Occupational future time perspective				-0.80^*** (0.17)		-0.56^** (0.19)
SSG×SSG×Occupational future time perspective				-1.12^*** (0.20)		-0.83^** (0.26)
Organizational support for employee development					0.17 (0.10)	0.09 (0.10)
SSG×Organizational support for employee development					-0.70^*** (0.16)	-0.50^** (0.17)
SSG×SSG×Organizational support for employee development					-0.81^*** (0.15)	-0.46^* (0.18)
R²	0.02	0.03	0.07	0.19	0.18	0.22
R² change	0.02	0.01	0.04	0.11	0.11	0.03
F	0.76	0.98	2.14^*	4.61^***	4.35^***	4.39^***
F change	0.76	2.54	11.10^**	11.21^***	10.23^***	7.27^***

Table 2 Analysis results 1 in Study 3

Variables	Proactive career behavior
Variables	Model 1 B (SE)	Model 2 B (SE)	Model 3 B (SE)	Model 4 B (SE)	Model 5 B (SE)	Model 6 B (SE)
Intercept	4.24^*** (0.59)	3.57^*** (0.72)	3.33^*** (0.71)	2.99^*** (0.70)	3.18^*** (0.72)	3.10^*** (0.72)
1. Age	0.01 (0.08)	0.004 (0.08)	0.01 (0.08)	0.01 (0.08)	0.02 (0.08)	0.01 (0.08)
Gender	-0.02 (0.01)	-0.02 (0.01)	-0.02 (0.01)	-0.01 (0.01)	-0.01 (0.01)	-0.01 (0.01)
Education	0.02 (0.06)	0.03 (0.06)	0.05 (0.06)	0.07 (0.06)	0.06 (0.06)	0.06 (0.06)
4. Tenure with leader	0.01 (0.02)	0.01 (0.02)	0.01 (0.01)	0.02 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.02 (0.01)
5. Work tenner	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)	0.01 (0.01)
Proactive personality	-0.02 (0.09)	0.02 (0.09)	0.04 (0.09)	0.14 (0.09)	0.14 (0.09)	0.17 (0.09)
LMX	0.11 (0.11)	0.21 (0.13)	0.24 (0.13)	0.20 (0.12)	0.18 (0.13)	0.15 (0.13)
SSG		-0.14 (0.09)	-0.32^** (0.10)	-0.24^* (0.10)	-0.23^* (0.10)	-0.19 (0.10)
SSG×SSG			-0.34^** (0.10)	-0.39 (0.10)	-0.41^*** (0.11)	-0.38^** (0.11)
Occupational future time perspective				0.29^* (0.12)		0.20 (0.13)
SSG×Occupational future time perspective				-0.80^*** (0.17)		-0.56^** (0.19)
SSG×SSG×Occupational future time perspective				-1.12^*** (0.20)		-0.83^** (0.26)
Organizational support for employee development					0.17 (0.10)	0.09 (0.10)
SSG×Organizational support for employee development					-0.70^*** (0.16)	-0.50^** (0.17)
SSG×SSG×Organizational support for employee development					-0.81^*** (0.15)	-0.46^* (0.18)
R²	0.02	0.03	0.07	0.19	0.18	0.22
R² change	0.02	0.01	0.04	0.11	0.11	0.03
F	0.76	0.98	2.14^*	4.61^***	4.35^***	4.39^***
F change	0.76	2.54	11.10^**	11.21^***	10.23^***	7.27^***

Table 3 Analysis results 2 in Study 3

Variables	Career intrusion
Variables	Model 1 B (SE)	Model 2 B (SE)	Model 3 B (SE)	Model 4 B (SE)	Model 5 B (SE)	Model 6 B (SE)
Intercept	4.68^*** (0.89)	5.30^*** (1.09)	5.57^*** (1.09)	5.92^*** (1.08)	6.08^*** (1.11)	5.84^*** (1.11)
1. Age	-0.01 (0.12)	0.003 (0.12)	-0.01 (0.12)	0.01 (0.12)	-0.04 (0.12)	-0.002 (0.12)
Gender	-0.02 (0.02)	-0.02 (0.02)	-0.03 (0.02)	-0.03 (0.01)	-0.03 (0.01)	-0.03 (0.01)
Education	-0.01 (0.10)	-0.02 (0.10)	-0.05 (0.10)	-0.06 (0.09)	-0.05 (0.09)	-0.05 (0.09)
4. Tenure with leader	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.04 (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)
5. Work tenner	0.06^* (0.02)	0.06^* (0.02)	0.06^* (0.02)	0.05^* (0.02)	0.06^*** (0.02)	0.06^* (0.02)
Proactive personality	-0.07 (0.13)	-0.11 (0.14)	-0.12 (0.14)	-0.26 (0.14)	-0.28^* (0.13)	-0.29^* (0.14)
LMX	-0.39^* (0.16)	-0.49^* (0.19)	-0.53^* (0.19)	-0.45^* (0.19)	-0.50^* (0.20)	-0.42^* (0.20)
SSG		0.13 (0.13)	0.34^* (0.16)	0.34^* (0.15)	0.32^* (0.16)	0.33^* (0.16)
SSG×SSG			0.38^* (0.16)	0.64^*** (0.16)	0.67^*** (0.17)	0.71^*** (0.17)
Occupational future time perspective				-0.73^*** (0.18)		-0.54^* (0.20)
SSG×Occupational future time perspective				0.38 (0.27)		0.12 (0.29)
SSG×SSG×Occupational future time perspective				1.44^*** (0.30)		0.87^* (0.40)
Organizational support for employee development					-0.36 (0.15)	-0.23 (0.16)
SSG×Organizational support for employee development					0.48 (0.25)	0.40 (0.27)
SSG×SSG×Organizational support for employee development					1.04^*** (0.23)	0.66^* (0.28)
R²	0.07	0.76	0.10	0.20	0.19	0.22
R² change	-0.07	0.004	0.02	0.10	0.09	0.20
F	2.71^*	2.50^*	2.94^**	4.88^***	4.59^***	4.32^***
F change	2.71^*	0.97	6.08^*	9.72^***	8.69^***	5.86^***

Table 3 Analysis results 2 in Study 3

Variables	Career intrusion
Variables	Model 1 B (SE)	Model 2 B (SE)	Model 3 B (SE)	Model 4 B (SE)	Model 5 B (SE)	Model 6 B (SE)
Intercept	4.68^*** (0.89)	5.30^*** (1.09)	5.57^*** (1.09)	5.92^*** (1.08)	6.08^*** (1.11)	5.84^*** (1.11)
1. Age	-0.01 (0.12)	0.003 (0.12)	-0.01 (0.12)	0.01 (0.12)	-0.04 (0.12)	-0.002 (0.12)
Gender	-0.02 (0.02)	-0.02 (0.02)	-0.03 (0.02)	-0.03 (0.01)	-0.03 (0.01)	-0.03 (0.01)
Education	-0.01 (0.10)	-0.02 (0.10)	-0.05 (0.10)	-0.06 (0.09)	-0.05 (0.09)	-0.05 (0.09)
4. Tenure with leader	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.04 (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)	-0.05^* (0.02)
5. Work tenner	0.06^* (0.02)	0.06^* (0.02)	0.06^* (0.02)	0.05^* (0.02)	0.06^*** (0.02)	0.06^* (0.02)
Proactive personality	-0.07 (0.13)	-0.11 (0.14)	-0.12 (0.14)	-0.26 (0.14)	-0.28^* (0.13)	-0.29^* (0.14)
LMX	-0.39^* (0.16)	-0.49^* (0.19)	-0.53^* (0.19)	-0.45^* (0.19)	-0.50^* (0.20)	-0.42^* (0.20)
SSG		0.13 (0.13)	0.34^* (0.16)	0.34^* (0.15)	0.32^* (0.16)	0.33^* (0.16)
SSG×SSG			0.38^* (0.16)	0.64^*** (0.16)	0.67^*** (0.17)	0.71^*** (0.17)
Occupational future time perspective				-0.73^*** (0.18)		-0.54^* (0.20)
SSG×Occupational future time perspective				0.38 (0.27)		0.12 (0.29)
SSG×SSG×Occupational future time perspective				1.44^*** (0.30)		0.87^* (0.40)
Organizational support for employee development					-0.36 (0.15)	-0.23 (0.16)
SSG×Organizational support for employee development					0.48 (0.25)	0.40 (0.27)
SSG×SSG×Organizational support for employee development					1.04^*** (0.23)	0.66^* (0.28)
R²	0.07	0.76	0.10	0.20	0.19	0.22
R² change	-0.07	0.004	0.02	0.10	0.09	0.20
F	2.71^*	2.50^*	2.94^**	4.88^***	4.59^***	4.32^***
F change	2.71^*	0.97	6.08^*	9.72^***	8.69^***	5.86^***

Table 4 Monte Carlo Analysis Results of Instantaneous Indirect Effects

Independent Variable Values	Instantaneous Indirect Effects（95% CI）
Independent Variable Values	SSG-SD	均值	SSG+SD
Main Effect Model	-1.24 [-2.00, -0.53]	-1.45 [-2.36, -0.61]	-1.67 [-2.72, -0.70]
Moderation Model
Occupational future time perspective-SD	-11.78 [-22.99, -1.72]	-14.02 [-27.15, -2.17]	-16.24 [-31.33, -2.63]
Occupational future time perspective+SD	-14.53 [-28.61, -1.84]	-17.14 [-33.76, -2.35]	-20.01 [-38.94, -2.91]
Organizational support for employee development-SD	-8.92 [-13.26, -5.18]	-10.58 [-15.71, -6.16]	-12.23 [-18.15, -7.14]
Organizational support for employee development+SD	-11.34 [-16.94, -6.46]	-13.44 [-20.05, -7.65]	-15.55 [-23.19, -8.90]

Table 4 Monte Carlo Analysis Results of Instantaneous Indirect Effects

Independent Variable Values	Instantaneous Indirect Effects（95% CI）
Independent Variable Values	SSG-SD	均值	SSG+SD
Main Effect Model	-1.24 [-2.00, -0.53]	-1.45 [-2.36, -0.61]	-1.67 [-2.72, -0.70]
Moderation Model
Occupational future time perspective-SD	-11.78 [-22.99, -1.72]	-14.02 [-27.15, -2.17]	-16.24 [-31.33, -2.63]
Occupational future time perspective+SD	-14.53 [-28.61, -1.84]	-17.14 [-33.76, -2.35]	-20.01 [-38.94, -2.91]
Organizational support for employee development-SD	-8.92 [-13.26, -5.18]	-10.58 [-15.71, -6.16]	-12.23 [-18.15, -7.14]
Organizational support for employee development+SD	-11.34 [-16.94, -6.46]	-13.44 [-20.05, -7.65]	-15.55 [-23.19, -8.90]

Figure 1. Theoretical Model.

Figure 1. Theoretical Model.

Figure 2. The Moderating Effect of Occupational Future Time Perspective on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Proactive Career Behavior.

Figure 2. The Moderating Effect of Occupational Future Time Perspective on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Proactive Career Behavior.

Figure 3. The Moderating Effect of Organizational Support for Employee Development on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Proactive Career Behavior.

Figure 3. The Moderating Effect of Organizational Support for Employee Development on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Proactive Career Behavior.

Figure 4. The Moderating Effect of Occupational Future Time Perspective on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Career Intrusion.

Figure 4. The Moderating Effect of Occupational Future Time Perspective on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Career Intrusion.

Figure 5. The Moderating Effect of Organizational Support for Employee Development on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Career Intrusion.

Figure 5. The Moderating Effect of Organizational Support for Employee Development on the Inverted U-shaped Relationship Between SSG and Career Intrusion.

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