The effects of supervisees' fear of negative evaluation on self-disclosure: the dual mediating effects of perceived supervisor authenticity & emotional connection

Objectives This study examined the role of perceived supervisor authenticity and emotional connection in the relationship between supervisees' fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure. Methods Supervisees in counseling training were administered an online survey of fear of negative evaluation, perceived supervisor authenticity, emotional connection, supervisor self-disclosure scale, and demographic questions, and mediation and indirect effects were examined using bootstrapping in Process Macro. Results First, fear of negative evaluation was negatively related to perceived supervisor authenticity, emotional connection, and supervisee self-disclosure. Perceived supervisor authenticity was positively related to emotional connectedness and supervisee self-disclosure, and emotional connectedness and supervisee self-disclosure were positively related. Second, a single mediation effect test revealed a significant mediating effect of perceived supervisor authenticity on the effect of fear of negative evaluation on supervisee self-disclosure, but the mediating effect of emotional connectedness was not significant. Third, the results of the dual mediation test revealed a significant dual mediation effect of perceived supervisor authenticity and emotional connection on the effect of fear of negative supervisor evaluation on self-disclosure. Conclusions To increase supervisee self-disclosure, supervisors need to make an effort to be authentic and communicate, and supervisees need to make an effort to lower their fear of negative evaluation, perceive the supervisor's authenticity, and develop an emotional connection.