Influence of perceived supervisor support and interpersonal relationships on internship satisfaction of hospitality interns: moderating role of perceived career readiness

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effects of perceived supervisor support and interpersonal relationships on hospitality interns' internship satisfaction, and to explore the moderating role of perceived career readiness in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach The sample consisted of students from the hospitality management department at a university who had internship experience in the hospitality sector. The internship sites included Taiwanese hotels and restaurants. In total, 147 questionnaires were distributed using convenience sampling, yielding 140 valid responses (response rate: 95.24%). Findings The results indicated that (1) both perceived supervisor support and interpersonal relationships positively influenced interns' internship satisfaction. (2) Perceived career readiness negatively moderated the association between interns' interpersonal relationships and their internship satisfaction. Originality/value This study applies social identity theory to examine how perceived supervisor support, interpersonal relationships, and perceived career readiness influence internship satisfaction. Unlike previous research, it offers a theoretical perspective to better understand interns' motivations and psychological needs in the hospitality context.