Are leaders' well-being, behaviours and style associated with the affective well-being of their employees? A systematic review of three decades of research

TY - JOUR

T1 - Are leaders' well-being, behaviours and style associated with the affective well-being of their employees? A systematic review of three decades of research

AU - Skakon, Janne

AU - Nielsen, Karina M.

AU - Borg, Vilhelm

AU - Guzman, Jaime

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - This study is an overview of published empirical research on the impact of leaders and leadership styles on employee stress and affective well-being. A computerized search and systematic review of nearly 30 years of empirical research was conducted. Forty-nine papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria, which include the requirements for papers to report empirical studies and to be published during the period 1980 to 2009 in English-language peer-reviewed journals. The studies were mostly cross-sectional (43/49 papers) and examined the impact of leaders' stress (4 papers), leaders' behaviours (e.g. support, consideration and empowerment) (30 papers) and specific leadership styles (20 papers) on employees' stress and affective well-being. Three research questions were addressed. The review found some support for leader stress and affective well-being being associated with employee stress and affective well-being. Leader behaviours, the relationship between leaders and their employees and specific leadership styles were all associated with employee stress and affective well-being. It is recommended that future studies include more qualitative data, use standardize questionnaires and examine the processes linking leaders with employee stress. This may lead to effective interventions.

AB - This study is an overview of published empirical research on the impact of leaders and leadership styles on employee stress and affective well-being. A computerized search and systematic review of nearly 30 years of empirical research was conducted. Forty-nine papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria, which include the requirements for papers to report empirical studies and to be published during the period 1980 to 2009 in English-language peer-reviewed journals. The studies were mostly cross-sectional (43/49 papers) and examined the impact of leaders' stress (4 papers), leaders' behaviours (e.g. support, consideration and empowerment) (30 papers) and specific leadership styles (20 papers) on employees' stress and affective well-being. Three research questions were addressed. The review found some support for leader stress and affective well-being being associated with employee stress and affective well-being. Leader behaviours, the relationship between leaders and their employees and specific leadership styles were all associated with employee stress and affective well-being. It is recommended that future studies include more qualitative data, use standardize questionnaires and examine the processes linking leaders with employee stress. This may lead to effective interventions.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - systematic review, leaders, leader-employee interaction

KW - stress

KW - well-being

KW - leadership style

KW - Leadership style

KW - Leader behaviour

KW - stress

KW - well being

KW - Employee

KW - Systematic literature review

U2 - 10.1080/02678373.2010.495262

DO - 10.1080/02678373.2010.495262

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0267-8373

VL - 24

SP - 107

EP - 139

JO - Work and Stress

JF - Work and Stress

IS - 2

ER -