Job satisfaction as a mediator in the relationship between performance appraisal and voice behavior

We explored the mediating effect of job satisfaction in the relationship between employees’ performance appraisal and their voice behavior. A questionnaire was administered to 864 employees at enterprises representing high-tech industrial clusters from 5 cities in China. Developmental performance appraisal was found to have a more positive influence on employees’ voice behavior than evaluative performance appraisal did. Compared with prohibitive voice behavior, both developmental and evaluative types of performance appraisal had a more positive impact on promotive voice behavior, and job satisfaction was found to play a mediating role in the relationship between these variables.