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The impact of organizational support and leader–member exchange on the work‐related behaviour of nursing professionals: the moderating effect of professional and organizational identification
Author(s) -
Trybou Jeroen,
Gemmel Paul,
Pauwels Yarrid,
Henninck Charlene,
Clays Els
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/jan.12201
Subject(s) - perceived organizational support , social exchange theory , nursing , psychology , multilevel model , identification (biology) , organizational identification , quality (philosophy) , social support , organizational commitment , test (biology) , social psychology , medicine , paleontology , philosophy , botany , epistemology , machine learning , computer science , biology
Aim The aim of this study was to examine the relations between perceived organizational support, the quality of leader–member exchange, in‐role and extra‐role behaviour, professional identification and organizational identification among registered nurses and nurse assistants. Background Theoretically, employees will reciprocate received beneficial treatment with positive attitudes and behaviour. Recently, it has been shown that this principle may be more complex than originally anticipated. Design A quantitative, cross‐sectional survey design was used. The quality of social exchange and identification was scored by the involved registered nurses and nurse assistants; in‐role and extra‐role behaviour was rated by the head nurse. Methods The survey was administered to nurses and nurse assistants ( n = 196) working in five Belgian nursing homes. Data were collected from February–March 2012. Pearson correlation analyses, t ‐test analyses and hierarchical regression were used to analyse the data. Results Our results showed no relationship between perceived organizational support and leader–member exchange and in‐role behaviour. A positive relationship was found between perceived organizational support and extra‐role behaviour and a trend towards significance between leader–member exchange and extra‐role behaviour. Organizational and professional identification moderated the relationship between perceived organizational support and extra‐role behaviour. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the importance of social exchange to nurses and nurse assistants and therefore nursing administrators and leaders. When registered nurses and nurse assistants perceive high‐quality social exchange, they are more likely to go the extra mile on behalf of the organization. Fostering social identification could enhance this.