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Exploring the impact of ethical leadership on job satisfaction and organizational commitment in public sector organizations: the mediating role of psychological empowerment

Author

Listed:
  • Miao Qing

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Muhammad Asif

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Abid Hussain

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Arif Jameel

    (Zhejiang University)

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of ethical leadership on employee attitudes (affective commitment and job satisfaction) and to examine the role of psychological empowerment as a potential mediator of these relationships. In total, 467 employees in Chinese public sector completed surveys across three separate waves. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test hypotheses. The paper found a positive relationship between ethical leadership and both employee attitudes and further reveals that psychological empowerment fully mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and affective commitment while partially mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction. Testing of above relationships via a mediated approach is novel and contributes to the research on ethical leadership.

Suggested Citation

  • Miao Qing & Muhammad Asif & Abid Hussain & Arif Jameel, 2020. "Exploring the impact of ethical leadership on job satisfaction and organizational commitment in public sector organizations: the mediating role of psychological empowerment," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(6), pages 1405-1432, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:14:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1007_s11846-019-00340-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-019-00340-9
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    Cited by:

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    2. Liyuan Wang & Tianyi Xie, 2023. "Double-Edged Sword Effect of Flexible Work Arrangements on Employee Innovation Performance: From the Demands–Resources–Individual Effects Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-27, June.
    3. Barbara Sypniewska & Małgorzata Baran & Monika Kłos, 2023. "Work engagement and employee satisfaction in the practice of sustainable human resource management – based on the study of Polish employees," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1069-1100, September.
    4. Woonsun Kang, 2021. "Explaining Effects of Transformational Leadership on Teachers’ Cooperative Professional Development through Structural Equation Model and Phantom Model Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Richard Surungan Hutajulu, 2021. "Factors of Safety Culture and their Implication to Job Satisfaction in the Construction Industry," GATR Journals gjbssr595, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    6. Yuwei Deng & Jacob Cherian & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Sarminah Samad, 2022. "Conceptualizing the Role of Target-Specific Environmental Transformational Leadership between Corporate Social Responsibility and Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Hospital Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    7. Boyao Zhang & Ubaldo Comite & Ali Gokhan Yucel & Xintao Liu & Mohammed Arshad Khan & Shahid Husain & Muhammad Safdar Sial & József Popp & Judit Oláh, 2021. "Unleashing the Importance of TQM and Knowledge Management for Organizational Sustainability in the Age of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-18, October.
    8. Adedapo Oluwaseyi Ojo & Olawole Fawehinmi & Mohd Yusoff Yusliza, 2021. "Examining the Predictors of Resilience and Work Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Beatriz Martín-del-Río & Marie-Carmen Neipp & Adrián García-Selva & Angel Solanes-Puchol, 2021. "Positive Organizational Psychology: A Bibliometric Review and Science Mapping Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Qinghua Fu & Jacob Cherian & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Sarminah Samad & Ubaldo Comite, 2022. "An Inclusive Leadership Framework to Foster Employee Creativity in the Healthcare Sector: The Role of Psychological Safety and Polychronicity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.
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    12. Muhammad Sanaullah Shah & Cisheng Wu & Zia Ullah, 2021. "The Inter-Relationship between CSR, Inclusive Leadership and Employee Creativity: A Case of the Banking Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    13. Jun-Chul Ha & Jun-Woo Lee, 2022. "Realization of a Sustainable High-Performance Organization through Procedural Justice: The Dual Mediating Role of Organizational Trust and Organizational Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, January.
    14. Ahmad, Naveed & Ullah, Zia & AlDhaen, Esra & Han, Heesup & Scholz, Miklas, 2022. "A CSR perspective to foster employee creativity in the banking sector: The role of work engagement and psychological safety," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    15. Hyun-ju Choi, 2021. "Effect of Chief Executive Officer’s Sustainable Leadership Styles on Organization Members’ Psychological Well-Being and Organizational Citizenship Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-29, December.
    16. Maya Chreif & Panteha Farmanesh, 2022. "Applying Green Human Resource Practices toward Sustainable Workplace: A Moderated Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    17. Pimolpun Phetsombat & Khahan Na-Nan, 2023. "A Causal Model of Ethical Leadership Affecting the Organizational Citizenship Behavior of Teachers in the Office of the Basic Education Commission," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    18. Afriyadi Cahyadi & József Poór & Katalin Szabó, 2022. "Pursuing Consultant Performance: The Roles of Sustainable Leadership Styles, Sustainable Human Resource Management Practices, and Consultant Job Satisfaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.

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