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Who cares for those who care? The role of healthcare leaders’ regulation of followers’ emotions on follower job satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Hannah Kunst
  • Helena Nguyen
  • Anya Johnson

    (Work and Organisational Studies, Business School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

  • Shenjiang Mo

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)

  • Carolyn MacCann

    (School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Abstract

In Australia and worldwide, healthcare is experiencing a workforce crisis, making the maintenance or improvement of job satisfaction a critical focus for healthcare leaders. This study examines how healthcare leaders influence followers’ affective experience by regulating their followers’ emotions. Building on Affective Events Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, we investigate the influence of leaders’ use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression strategies on follower affect and job satisfaction. Data were collected from 337 healthcare workers and 54 leaders over two timepoints. Leaders’ reappraisal increased followers’ job satisfaction whereas suppression decreased job satisfaction (controlling for followers’ own emotion regulation strategies). These effects were mediated by followers’ affect and moderated by followers’ capacity to cope with change. Our results provide new theoretical and practical insights into how healthcare leaders regulate followers’ emotions. JEL Classification: D23, J24, M50

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah Kunst & Helena Nguyen & Anya Johnson & Shenjiang Mo & Carolyn MacCann, 2025. "Who cares for those who care? The role of healthcare leaders’ regulation of followers’ emotions on follower job satisfaction," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 50(2), pages 312-337, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:50:y:2025:i:2:p:312-337
    DOI: 10.1177/03128962231211173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Lucia Specchia & Maria Rosaria Cozzolino & Elettra Carini & Andrea Di Pilla & Caterina Galletti & Walter Ricciardi & Gianfranco Damiani, 2021. "Leadership Styles and Nurses’ Job Satisfaction. Results of a Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Yan Wang & Lixia Yang & Yan Wang, 2014. "Suppression (but Not Reappraisal) Impairs Subsequent Error Detection: An ERP Study of Emotion Regulation's Resource-Depleting Effect," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-9, April.
    3. Arran Caza & Brianna B. Caza & Barry Z. Posner, 2021. "Transformational Leadership across Cultures: Follower Perception and Satisfaction," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Lisa Ritzenhöfer & Prisca Brosi & Matthias Spörrle & Isabell M. Welpe, 2019. "Satisfied with the Job, But Not with the Boss: Leaders’ Expressions of Gratitude and Pride Differentially Signal Leader Selfishness, Resulting in Differing Levels of Followers’ Satisfaction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(4), pages 1185-1202, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M50 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - General

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