2.2. The mediating role of supervisor-based social exchange (LMX)
We contend that LMX captures the supervisor-based social exchange process. Rooted in social exchange theory, Graen and
Scandura (1987) posit that leaders tend to develop different exchange relationships with different members. In high-quality LMX,
subordinates receive several advantages, such as a high level of trust and respect, continuous emotional support, more resources,
more formal and informal rewards, and greater access to information. As a result, subordinates tend to reciprocate by showing more
loyalty to their supervisor, putting more effort into work, and exhibiting less turnover behavior (Gerstner & Day, 1997; Ballinger,
Lehman, & Schoorman, 2010; Tse & Mitchell, 2010).
As suggested by Wang et al. (2005) and Deluga