A Healthy Employee: How Empowering Leadership Affects Followers’ Psychological Health via Organization-Based Self-Esteem

A Healthy Employee: How Empowering Leadership Affects Followers’ Psychological Health via Organization-Based Self-Esteem

Purpose – The purpose of the present study is to examine the potential effect of empowering leadership on followers’ psychological health via organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) under the lens of conservation of resources theory. Design/Methodology/Approach – Data were collected from 279 full-time Korean employees working in various industries and occupations through an online survey. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping were used to verify the indirect effect of empowering leadership on employees’ psychological health. Findings – Empowering leadership was positively related to followers’ OBSE, which in turn related to four different types of psychological health: positive affect, life satisfaction, depression, and burnout. Research Implications – Employees’ well-being has been overlooked in empowerment literature. The findings advance the understanding of how empowering leadership could affect followers’ psychological health, highlighting the importance of resource gains. OBSE as an important psychological resource contributes to improving employees’ well-being.