Authentic leadership and thriving among nurses: the mediating role of empathy.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organization Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Anneleen Viona
AV
Mortier
Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organization Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Peter
P
Vlerick
Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Els
E
Clays
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory; D057566:Self Report
authentic leadership; empathy; learning; thriving; vitality