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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

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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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    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. Khumalo Shuti Steph, 2024. "Forms, Practices and Ramifications of Abusive Supervision in Universities: A Social Justice Scrutiny," HOLISTICA – Journal of Business and Public Administration, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 107-118.
    18. 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.
    19. 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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