Proactively Seeking Feedback From Diverse Networks: A Weekly Diary Study on Nurses’ Work Engagement and Task Performance

Abstract

Feedback-seeking behavior has been found to have positive impacts on nurses’ mental health. However, we still lack knowledge on how and under what conditions feedback-seeking behavior can enhance nurses’ work engagement and task performance on a weekly basis. Based on weak ties theory and information processing theory, this study aimed to investigate the positive relationship between weekly feedback-seeking behavior, nurses’ work engagement, and task performance. In addition, we explored the moderating roles of contacts’ closeness and contacts’ functional background diversity. Using a 4-week survey with 368 nurses (totaling 1472 observations), we generally confirmed our hypotheses. The results of the multilevel regression analysis revealed that the positive relationship between weekly feedback-seeking behavior and work engagement was stronger for those who had higher levels of contacts’ functional background diversity and that the positive relationship between weekly feedback-seeking behavior and task performance was stronger for those who had lower levels of contacts’ closeness. In summary, taking a network characteristic perspective, we highlight that contacts’ closeness and functional background diversity can significantly influence the nurses’ feedback-seeking process on a weekly basis. These findings enhance our understanding of how feedback-seeking behavior can be leveraged to promote positive work outcomes for nurses.