The Association between Social Support and Employee Job Satisfaction: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Social support is considered an important resource for employees in dealing with their work environment and maintaining positive work experiences. Previous studies have examined its relationship with job satisfaction in various occupational settings, but the findings are still spread across different contexts. A systematic review is therefore needed to bring together recent empirical evidence on this relationship. Purpose: This study aims to review and summarize empirical findings concerning the relationship between social support and job satisfaction among employees in different work settings. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature search was carried out using the Scopus database with the keywords social support, job satisfaction, and employees. The review focused on empirical studies published in English from 2022 to 2026. After the screening and eligibility processes were completed, nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Findings: The findings across the reviewed studies generally showed a positive relationship between social support and employee job satisfaction. Different sources of support, including organizations, supervisors, coworkers, family members, and the broader social environment, were associated with employees’ job satisfaction. Several studies also examined mediating and moderating factors in this relationship, although these findings represent statistical associations rather than causal relationships. Research Implications: The findings emphasize the relevance of a supportive work environment for employees’ work experiences. Organizations can consider strengthening support from supervisors, coworkers, and organizational structures as part of efforts to create a more supportive workplace. The findings may also serve as a reference for future research examining social support and job satisfaction in different occupational contexts. Conclusion: Based on the reviewed evidence, social support is consistently and positively associated with employee job satisfaction across a range of occupational settings. However, all studies included in this review used cross-sectional designs. Therefore, the findings should be understood as evidence of an association rather than a causal relationship. Further research using longitudinal or experimental designs is needed to examine the relationship over time and provide stronger evidence regarding causality. Originality: This review synthesizes empirical studies published between 2022 and 2026 to provide an updated perspective on the relationship between social support and employee job satisfaction. By bringing together findings from different occupational settings and examining various sources of social support, this study provides a broader understanding of the factors associated with employee job satisfaction.