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Authentic leadership and thriving among nurses: the mediating role of empathy
Author(s) -
Mortier Anneleen Viona,
Vlerick Peter,
Clays Els
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1111/jonm.12329
Subject(s) - thriving , empathy , psychology , social psychology , nursing management , nursing , medicine , psychotherapist
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.