Anneleen Viona Mortier1, Peter Vlerick1, Els Clays2. 1. Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organization Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 2. Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
AIM: To examine the relationship between perceived authentic leadership and two dimensions of thriving (learning and vitality) among nurses, and to study the mediating role of empathy in this relationship. BACKGROUND: Nurses' thriving is a key asset for health care organisations, and its significant role warrants the need to identify the underlying key determinants and psychological mechanisms. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was carried out in a large hospital in September 2013. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 360 nurses. The main hypotheses were tested through hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS: The significant positive relationship between perceived authentic leadership and vitality was mediated by perceived empathy. This mediation, however, was not confirmed in relation to learning. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse managers' authentic leadership enhances nurses' thriving at work. Furthermore, empathic nurse managers seem to increase the vitality of their nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Training nurse managers in authentic leadership skills is important for the nursing field, as those skills help nurse managers to better express empathy and consequently foster thriving in nursing.
AIM: To examine the relationship between perceived authentic leadership and two dimensions of thriving (learning and vitality) among nurses, and to study the mediating role of empathy in this relationship. BACKGROUND: Nurses' thriving is a key asset for health care organisations, and its significant role warrants the need to identify the underlying key determinants and psychological mechanisms. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was carried out in a large hospital in September 2013. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 360 nurses. The main hypotheses were tested through hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS: The significant positive relationship between perceived authentic leadership and vitality was mediated by perceived empathy. This mediation, however, was not confirmed in relation to learning. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse managers' authentic leadership enhances nurses' thriving at work. Furthermore, empathic nurse managers seem to increase the vitality of their nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Training nurse managers in authentic leadership skills is important for the nursing field, as those skills help nurse managers to better express empathy and consequently foster thriving in nursing.
Authors: María Del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes; Ivan Herrera-Peco; María Del Mar Molero Jurado; Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz; Diego Ayuso-Murillo; José Jesús Gázquez Linares Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2020-05-13