Organization-Based Self-Esteem and Meaningful Work Mediate Effects of Empowering Leadership on Employee Behaviors and Well-Being

Based on the conservation of resources theory and intrinsic motivation principles, this study examined the effects of empowering leadership on employees’ positive and negative behaviors and well-being through two mediators, organization-based self-esteem, and meaningful work, over an 8-week period. With 347 full-time employees, results from structural equation modeling demonstrated that empowering leadership was positively associated with organization-based self-esteem and meaningful work. Organization-based self-esteem led to greater organizational citizenship behaviors and fewer deviant behaviors. Perceptions of meaningful work resulted in lower levels of emotional exhaustion and higher levels of life satisfaction. Together, these findings highlight the important roles of the two psychological states explaining why empowering leadership contributes to employees’ favorable work behaviors and psychological well-being.