Interpersonal relationships are a crucial concept in the field of organizational behavior, and they have accumulated
a rich body of research to date. However, relationship theory encompasses various perspectives, and these divergent
viewpoints have led to fragmented discussions, making it challenging to integrate and impeding the progress of
research. The primary objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on relationships in
the context of the Chinese workplace, aiming to understand the current state of research achievements and challenges.
Firstly, this paper reviews the publication trends of relationship studies in TSSCI journals within the fields of industrial
psychology and management. Next, it synthesizes several significant Western relationship theories and elucidates
their research outcomes in the context of the Chinese workplace. Thirdly, this paper examines relationship theories
unique to Chinese culture and related research. Fourthly, it attempts to propose two organizing frameworks based on
content and process perspectives to summarize current theories. Finally, based on these organizing frameworks, the
paper discusses future research directions in the field of relationship studies. Through this comprehensive review and
synthesis, this paper aspires to provide a coherent overview of relationship research in the Chinese workplace, serving
as a valuable reference for future studies.