IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i14p2628-d250923.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital Leadership Skills and Associations with Psychological Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Sabrina Zeike

    (Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), The University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, 50933 Cologne, Germany)

  • Katherine Bradbury

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

  • Lara Lindert

    (Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), The University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, 50933 Cologne, Germany)

  • Holger Pfaff

    (Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), The University of Cologne, Medical Faculty, 50933 Cologne, Germany)

Abstract

Due to increasing digitalisation, today’s working world is changing rapidly and provides managers with new challenges. Digital leadership is an important factor in managing these challenges and has become a key concept in the discussion about what kinds of skills managers need for digital transformation. The main research question our study explored was if digital leadership is associated with psychological well-being in upper-level managers. Based on a qualitative pilot study and relevant literature, we developed a new scale for digital leadership in managers. We conducted an online survey with a sample of 368 upper-level managers from a large German ICT-company. Using a stepwise logistic regression analysis, potential effects of digital leadership on psychological well-being (WHO-5) were analysed. Logistic regression analyses showed that better skills in digital leadership were significantly associated with higher well-being. Results also showed that gender, age and managerial experience had no effect in our model. Our study provides a valuable insight into the association between digital leadership and well-being in managers. However, further research is necessary to validate the newly developed scale for digital leadership and to confirm a causal effect in the relationship between digital leadership and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabrina Zeike & Katherine Bradbury & Lara Lindert & Holger Pfaff, 2019. "Digital Leadership Skills and Associations with Psychological Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2628-:d:250923
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/14/2628/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/14/2628/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Heckmann, Nadine & Steger, Thomas & Dowling, Michael, 2016. "Organizational capacity for change, change experience, and change project performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 777-784.
    2. Andrew Kakabadse & Mohamed Omar Abdulla & Rabih Abouchakra & Ali Qassim Jawad, 2011. "Leading Smart Transformation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-30649-3, December.
    3. Junling Gao & Scott R Weaver & Junming Dai & Yingnan Jia & Xingdi Liu & Kezhi Jin & Hua Fu, 2014. "Workplace Social Capital and Mental Health among Chinese Employees: A Multi-Level, Cross-Sectional Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-6, January.
    4. Luigi Isaia Lecca & Marcello Campagna & Igor Portoghese & Maura Galletta & Nicola Mucci & Michele Meloni & Pierluigi Cocco, 2018. "Work Related Stress, Well-Being and Cardiovascular Risk among Flight Logistic Workers: An Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Cornelia Blank & Katharina Gatterer & Veronika Leichtfried & Doris Pollhammer & Maria Mair-Raggautz & Stefan Duschek & Egon Humpeler & Wolfgang Schobersberger, 2018. "Short Vacation Improves Stress-Level and Well-Being in German-Speaking Middle-Managers—A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Sabrina Zeike & Kyung-Eun Choi & Lara Lindert & Holger Pfaff, 2019. "Managers’ Well-Being in the Digital Era: Is it Associated with Perceived Choice Overload and Pressure from Digitalization? An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Fiona Cocker & Angela Martin & Jenn Scott & Alison Venn & Kristy Sanderson, 2013. "Psychological Distress, Related Work Attendance, and Productivity Loss in Small-to-Medium Enterprise Owner/Managers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lorena Espina-Romero & José Gregorio Noroño Sánchez & Gloria Rojas-Cangahuala & Jessica Palacios Garay & Doile Ríos Parra & Jose Rio Corredoira, 2023. "Digital Leadership in an Ever-Changing World: A Bibliometric Analysis of Trends and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-25, August.
    2. Jinkyo Shin & Md Alamgir Mollah & Jaehyeok Choi, 2023. "Sustainability and Organizational Performance in South Korea: The Effect of Digital Leadership on Digital Culture and Employees’ Digital Capabilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Verma, Pratima & Kumar, Vimal & Yalcin, Haydar & Daim, Tugrul, 2023. "Organizational architecture of strategic entrepreneurial firms for digital transformation: A bibliometric analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Misheck Musaigwa & Vivence Kalitanyi, 2024. "Effective leadership in the digital era: an exploration of change management," Technology audit and production reserves, PC TECHNOLOGY CENTER, vol. 1(4(75)), pages 6-14, January.
    5. Elia, Gianluca & Solazzo, Gianluca & Lerro, Antonio & Pigni, Federico & Tucci, Christopher L., 2024. "The digital transformation canvas: A conceptual framework for leading the digital transformation process," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 381-398.
    6. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Alam, Gazi Mahabubul & Mazzoleni, Alberto, 2023. "Entrepreneurs as strategic transformation managers: Exploring micro-foundations of digital transformation in small and medium internationalisers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Lara Lindert & Sabrina Zeike & Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi & Holger Pfaff, 2022. "Transformational Leadership and Employees’ Psychological Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. SiJian Niu & Byung Il Park & Jin Sup Jung, 2022. "The Effects of Digital Leadership and ESG Management on Organizational Innovation and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Andreas Wijaya, 2024. "Determining the Antecedents of Digital Leadership: The Nexus of Skill, Role, and Style," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 161-175.
    10. Turgut Karakose & Ibrahim Kocabas & Ramazan Yirci & Stamatios Papadakis & Tuncay Yavuz Ozdemir & Murat Demirkol, 2022. "The Development and Evolution of Digital Leadership: A Bibliometric Mapping Approach-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    11. Md Alamgir Mollah & Jae-Hyeok Choi & Su-Jung Hwang & Jin-Kyo Shin, 2023. "Exploring a Pathway to Sustainable Organizational Performance of South Korea in the Digital Age: The Effect of Digital Leadership on IT Capabilities and Organizational Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Audrin, Bertrand & Audrin, Catherine & Salamin, Xavier, 2024. "Digital skills at work – Conceptual development and empirical validation of a measurement scale," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    13. Culasso, Francesca & Gavurova, Beata & Crocco, Edoardo & Giacosa, Elisa, 2023. "Empirical identification of the chief digital officer role: A latent Dirichlet allocation approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    14. Stephanie Maren Neidlinger & Jörg Felfe & Katharina Schübbe, 2022. "Should I Stay or Should I Go (to the Office)?—Effects of Working from Home, Autonomy, and Core Self–Evaluations on Leader Health and Work–Life Balance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Lara Lindert & Lara Schlomann & Holger Pfaff & Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi, 2022. "The Role of Psychological Wellbeing in a Cross-Provider Worksite Healthcare Management Program for Employees with Musculoskeletal Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Badreldin Mohamed Ahmed Abdulrahman & Sanaa Mostafa Mohammed, 2024. "Investigating the Impact of Digital Leadership Dimensions on Service Economics Dimensions: An Empirical Study of Service Ministries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 14(6), pages 325-333, October.
    17. Md. Alamgir Mollah & Mohammad Bin Amin & Gouranga Chandra Debnath & Md. Sajjad Hosain & Md. Atikur Rahaman & Masuk Abdullah, 2024. "Nexus among Digital Leadership, Digital Transformation, and Digital Innovation for Sustainable Financial Performance: Revealing the Influence of Environmental Dynamism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-19, September.
    18. Marija Jović & Edvard Tijan & Doroteja Vidmar & Andreja Pucihar, 2022. "Factors of Digital Transformation in the Maritime Transport Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, August.
    19. Priporas, Constantinos Vasilios & Vellore Nagarajan, Durga & Kamenidou, Irene (Eirini), 2023. "A technology-people-integrated toolkit for retail care management during a crisis," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anna Hryniewicz & Dominika Wilczyńska & Daniel Krokosz & Konrad Hryniewicz & Mariusz Lipowski, 2022. "Well-Being of High-Level Managers during the Pandemic: The Role of Fear of Negative Appearance, Anxiety, and Eating Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Sabrina Zeike & Kyung-Eun Choi & Lara Lindert & Holger Pfaff, 2019. "Managers’ Well-Being in the Digital Era: Is it Associated with Perceived Choice Overload and Pressure from Digitalization? An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Nigel Lloyd & Nigel Smeeton & Imogen Freethy & Julia Jones & Wendy Wills & Abi Dennington-Price & John Jackson & Katherine Brown, 2025. "Workplace Health and Wellbeing in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs): A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Provision and Support Uptake," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(1), pages 1-44, January.
    4. Michał Błaszczyk & Milan Popović & Karolina Zajdel & Radosław Zajdel, 2023. "Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Organization of Remote Work in IT Companies: The Managers’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Joris C. Verster & Lizanne Arnoldy & Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo & Aletta D. Kraneveld & Johan Garssen & Andrew Scholey, 2021. "The Impact of Having a Holiday or Work in Fiji on Perceived Immune Fitness," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Francesco Virili & Cristiano Ghiringhelli, 2021. "Uncertainty and Emerging Tensions in Organizational Change: A Grounded Theory Study on the Orchestrating Role of the Change Leader," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, April.
    7. Khalifa Mohammed Al-Sobai & Shaligram Pokharel & Galal M. Abdella, 2020. "Perspectives on the Capabilities for the Selection of Strategic Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-20, October.
    8. Nasser Saad Al Kahtani & Sulphey M. M., 2022. "A Study on How Psychological Capital, Social Capital, Workplace Wellbeing, and Employee Engagement Relate to Task Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    9. Jacob Owenga & Rayviscic Mutinda & Isabella Mapelu, 2024. "Moderating Effect of Government Policies and Regulations on the Relationship between Diversification Strategies and Organizational Performance among Star Rated Hotels in the Kenyan Coast," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(1), pages 866-880, January.
    10. Junling Gao & Scott R Weaver & Hua Fua & Zhigang Pan, 2014. "Does Workplace Social Capital Associate with Hazardous Drinking Among Chinese Rural-Urban Migrant Workers?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Alina Alecse Stanciu & Iuliana Camelia Stoenica & George Adrian Bilcan & Gina Nuti Gheltu, 2018. "Managerial Culture - Factor of Influence of Performance," Academic Journal of Economic Studies, Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accountancy Bucharest,"Dimitrie Cantemir" Christian University Bucharest, vol. 4(1), pages 50-53, March.
    12. Sáenz-Royo, Carlos & Lozano-Rojo, Álvaro, 2023. "Authoritarianism versus participation in innovation decisions," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    13. Hisashi Eguchi & Akizumi Tsutsumi & Akiomi Inoue & Yuko Odagiri, 2017. "Psychometric assessment of a scale to measure bonding workplace social capital," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, June.
    14. Ruiz-Palomino, Pablo & Yáñez-Araque, Benito & Jiménez-Estévez, Pedro & Gutiérrez-Broncano, Santiago, 2022. "Can servant leadership prevent hotel employee depression during the COVID-19 pandemic? A mediating and multigroup analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    15. Elena Christina Schreibauer & Melina Hippler & Stephanie Burgess & Monika A. Rieger & Esther Rind, 2020. "Work-Related Psychosocial Stress in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: An Integrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-23, October.
    16. Luigi Isaia Lecca & Igor Portoghese & Nicola Mucci & Maura Galletta & Federico Meloni & Ilaria Pilia & Gabriele Marcias & Daniele Fabbri & Jacopo Fostinelli & Roberto G. Lucchini & Pierluigi Cocco & M, 2019. "Association between Work-Related Stress and QT Prolongation in Male Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-13, November.
    17. Beatriz Crespo-Ruiz & Shai Rivas-Galan & Cristina Fernandez-Vega & Carmen Crespo-Ruiz & Luis Maicas-Perez, 2018. "Executive Stress Management: Physiological Load of Stress and Recovery in Executives on Workdays," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Orr, Madeleine & Inoue, Yuhei, 2019. "Sport versus climate: Introducing the climate vulnerability of sport organizations framework," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 452-463.
    19. Kapo Wong & Alan Hoi Shou Chan, 2018. "Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-4, December.
    20. Kristina Willeke & Patrick Janson & Katharina Zink & Carolin Stupp & Sarah Kittel-Schneider & Anne Berghöfer & Thomas Ewert & Ryan King & Peter U. Heuschmann & Andreas Zapf & Manfred Wildner & Thomas , 2021. "Occurrence of Mental Illness and Mental Health Risks among the Self-Employed: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-25, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2628-:d:250923. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.