The relationship between authentic leadership and workplace loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of interactional justice
ISSN: 2040-8269
Article publication date: 24 July 2023
Issue publication date: 11 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the social penetration theory and affect theory of social exchange, this study aims to examine the relationship between authentic leadership (AL) and workplace loneliness (WL), as well as the mediating effect of interactional justice (IJ) on this relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US higher education sector.
Design/methodology/approach
An online, self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to full-time employees working at higher education institutions in the USA. A total of 464 employees participated in the survey, with structural equation modeling being used to analyze the data.
Findings
The outcomes provide evidence that AL is positively related to IJ, whereas the latter is negatively associated with WL. Moreover, IJ fully mediates the relationship between AL and WL. Overall, the findings underline the importance of IJ in affecting employee WL.
Practical implications
The outcomes provide valuable insights for higher education leaders and HR professionals in reducing employee WL. In particular to this end, it is recommended that organizations focus on improving employee IJ and AL perceptions. Furthermore, higher education organizations need to select and promote leaders who exhibit IJ behaviors and AL characteristics. In addition, organizations could offer IJ and AL training to their current leaders.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the limited literature on WL by offering a unique research model that examines IJ as a mediating variable between AL and WL. In addition, it adds to the literature by investigating WL in the context of US higher education sector, which is an understudied area in this research context.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is supported by the Northern Kentucky University (NKU) Faculty Summer Fellowship and Project Grant awarded to Ada T. Cenkci. The authors also thank NKU Burkardt Consulting Center (Highland Heights, KY) for assisting in creating the survey on the Qualtrics platform.
Citation
Cenkci, A.T. and Bircan, T. (2024), "The relationship between authentic leadership and workplace loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of interactional justice", Management Research Review, Vol. 47 No. 2, pp. 281-297. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-10-2022-0722
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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