TY  - EJOU
AU  - Chu, Xiaoyuan 
AU  - Litifu, Alafate 
AU  - Zhu, Zhaoyi 
AU  - Tan, Qing 
AU  - Ma, Shihao 
AU  - Yu, Jingyue 
AU  - Yin, Lipeng 
AU  - Lei, Li 
AU  - Han, Si 

TI  - Supervisor conscientiousness and professional identity for graduate students: A moderated mediation model
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - This study examined the mediating role of perceived supervisor–student relationship quality and the moderating role of student extraversion in the relationship between supervisor conscientiousness and graduate students’ professional identity. A total of 450 graduate students completed surveys of supervisor conscientiousness, perceived supervisor–student relationship quality, professional identity, and extraversion. Results of a moderated mediation model testing showed that supervisor conscientiousness was associated with higher graduate students’ professional identity. Perceived supervisor–student relationship quality mediated this association, with higher supervisor conscientiousness linked to better perceived supervisor–student relationship quality, which in turn related to higher levels of professional identity. In addition, student extraversion moderated the link between supervisor conscientiousness and perceived relationship quality, such that this association was stronger among students low in extraversion. These findings extend social learning theory by showing that supervisors’ personality traits shape graduate students’ professional identity through relational mechanisms, while also indicating this process may operate through relationship-based need satisfaction, as proposed in self-determination theory. By implication, fostering conscientious supervisory practices and supportive relationships may facilitate professional identity development, particularly among students low in extraversion.
KW  - Professional identity; supervisor conscientiousness; perceived supervisor–student relationship quality; extraversion; graduate students

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2026.076401