Role of Supervisor Consultation Toward Work Engagement: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: We examined the association between supervisor consultation, as an actual practice representing supervisor support, and work engagement. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in Japan, involving 14,026 participants who met the requirement for a one-year follow-up. Supervisor consultation was measured using a single question, and work engagement was defined using the Japanese version of the nine-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). Associations were examined using linear regression analysis. Results: Supervisor consultation was positively associated with work engagement after adjusting for gender, age, education, income, and industry (β = 3.474; p < 0.001). The relationship remained significant after adjustment for perceived supervisor support, although the coefficient decreased (β = 1.315; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Supervisor consultation probably acted on work engagement in different ways than perceived supervisor support.