The Reported Processes and Outcomes of Supervisor Social Identity Verbal Self-disclosure and Social Identity Topic Management in Social Work and Higher Education

Abstract

This research is concerned with client/student facing supervisees’ supervision experiences in social work and higher education settings and focuses on their reported experiences with supervisory dyads in which they have perceived social identity differences. The primary goal of this dissertation is to better understand the relationship of reported supervisor self-disclosure about identity and directing dyad conversations to supervisor and supervisee social identities (a form of topic management) with supervisee perceived psychological safety and optimal distinctiveness in these settings. The dissertation utilized a sequential explanatory mixed-method approach of internet-based survey (Study 1: N = 376) and computer-mediated interviews (Study 2: N = 25) to explore these associations. Results of Study 1 revealed curvilinear relationships between communication forms and optimal distinctiveness measures. The survey also found perceived supervisor cultural competence to be a powerful mediator and moderator of communication, identity, and distinctiveness with psychological safety. In Study 2, participant interviews supported Study 1’s quantitative findings and provided greater detail on the reported processes and outcomes of 1-on-1 supervisor social identity communication. Supervisor social identity communication process themes that emerged from participant interviews were (1) acknowledgement, (2) related to work and efficacy, (3) assumptions and biases, (4) lack of discussion, (5) boundaries, norms, and expectations, (6) frequency and timing, (7) power management, (8) process attributes, and (9) outside 1-on-1. Supervisor social identity communication outcome themes that emerged from participant interviews were (1) boundaries, norms, and expectations, (2) intimacy, (3) power sharing and management, (4) role efficacy, and (5) safety, support, and satisfaction, and (6) salience.