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The Trickle-Down Effect of Responsible Leadership on Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Evidence from the Hotel Industry in China

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  • Hong Tian

    (Business School, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China)

  • Danni Suo

    (Business School, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China)

Abstract

Based on the trickle-down effect model, social learning theory and trait activation theory, this study explores the mechanisms of multi-level responsible leadership on employees’ pro-environmental behaviors in the hotel industry in China. The results show that responsible leadership positively influences employees’ pro-environmental behaviors; mid-level responsible leadership significantly mediates the positive relationship between high-level responsible leadership and employees’ pro-environmental behaviors; and the perceived role of ethics and social responsibility positively moderates the relationship between responsible leadership and employees’ pro-environmental behaviors. The results of this study provide empirical support for further analysis of the “black box” of responsible leadership on employees’ pro-environmental behaviors, fill the gap of the trickle-down model in leadership, and provide new directions for sustainable value creation in hospitality industry organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong Tian & Danni Suo, 2021. "The Trickle-Down Effect of Responsible Leadership on Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Evidence from the Hotel Industry in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11677-:d:673815
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    Cited by:

    1. Rangpeng Liu & Zhuo Yue & Ali Ijaz & Abdalwali Lutfi & Jie Mao, 2023. "Sustainable Business Performance: Examining the Role of Green HRM Practices, Green Innovation and Responsible Leadership through the Lens of Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Hong Tian & Xinyu Liu, 2022. "Pro-Environmental Behavior Research: Theoretical Progress and Future Directions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Zhenglin Zhang & Haiqing Shi & Taiwen Feng, 2022. "Why Good Employees Do Bad Things: The Link between Pro-Environmental Behavior and Workplace Deviance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Nick Lin-Hi & Xiaohan Gao-Urhahn & Torsten Biemann & Irmela F. Koch-Bayram, 2023. "Internal CSR and blue-collar workers’ attitudes and behaviors in China: a combination of a cross-sectional study and a field experiment," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(3), pages 1185-1213, July.
    5. Meng Zhang & Ruyang Zhang & Yafei Li & Yue Zhou, 2024. "Knowing green, buying green: University students green knowledge and green purchase behavior," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.

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