Graduation Year
2004
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Tammy D. Allen, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Walter Borman, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Judith Becker Bryant, Ph.D.
Keywords
career plateau, mentor experience, mentor benefits, job satisfaction, job performance, organizational commitment, turnover intentions
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to empirically investigate the relationship between career plateauing and mentoring. First, the relationship between career plateauing and work-related attitudes was investigated. Next, the relationship between mentoring experience and work-related attitudes was examined. Finally, both experience as a mentor and mentoring provided were examined as moderators between career plateauing and work-related attitudes. Three hundred and six government employees located in the southeastern United States completed surveys (50.08% response rate). Of those, 110 reported mentor experience and 196 reported no mentor experience. In general, results provided support for the relationship between job content and hierarchical plateauing and negative work-related attitudes. No support was found for the relationship between job tenure and work-related attitudes. Support was found for the relationship between mentoring experience and positive work-related attitudes. With the exception of contextual performance, the relationship between mentoring provided and work-related attitudes was not supported. Little support was found for the interaction between mentor experience and plateauing, suggesting that mentoring others may not alleviate the negative effects of career plateauing. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Scholar Commons Citation
Lentz, Elizabeth, "The Link Between the Career Plateau and Mentoring – Addressing the Empirical Gap" (2004). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/1129
