DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Transformational Leadership and Depressive Symptoms in Germany: Validation of a Short Transformational Leadership Scale

  • Seegel, Max Leonhard (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University) ;
  • Herr, Raphael M. (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University) ;
  • Schneider, Michael (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University) ;
  • Schmidt, Burkhard (Department for Business, Work and Organizational Psychology, Applied University Fresenius) ;
  • Fischer, Joachim E. (Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University)
  • Received : 2019.01.03
  • Accepted : 2019.03.19
  • Published : 2019.05.31

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to validate a shortened transformational leadership (TL) scale (12 items) comprising core TL behaviour and to test the associations of this shortened TL scale with depressive symptoms. Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from 1632 employees of the overall workforce of a middle-sized German company (51.6% men; mean age, 41.35 years; standard deviation, 9.4 years). TL was assessed with the German version of the Transformational Leadership Inventory and depressive symptoms with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The structural validity of the core TL scale was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis. Associations with depressive symptoms were estimated with structural equation modelling and adjusted logistic regression. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling showed better model fit for the core TL than for the full TL score. Logistic regression revealed 3.61-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20 to 5.93: women) to 4.46-fold (95% CI, 2.86 to 6.95: men) increased odds of reporting depressive symptoms (HADS score >8) for those in the lowest tertile of reported core TL. Conclusions: The shortened core TL seems to be a valid instrument for research and training purposes in the context of TL and depressive symptoms in employees. Of particular note, men reporting poor TL were more likely to report depressive symptoms.

Keywords

References

  1. Jacobi F, Wittchen HU, Holting C, Hofler M, Pfister H, Muller N, et al. Prevalence, co-morbidity and correlates of mental disorders in the general population: results from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (GHS). Psychol Med 2004;34(4):597-611. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291703001399
  2. Luppa M, Heinrich S, Angermeyer MC, Konig HH, Riedel-Heller SG. Cost-of-illness studies of depression: a systematic review. J Affect Disord 2007;98(1-2):29-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2006.07.017
  3. Simon GE, Barber C, Birnbaum HG, Frank RG, Greenberg PE, Rose RM, et al. Depression and work productivity: the comparative costs of treatment versus nontreatment. J Occup Environ Med 2001;43(1):2-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-200101000-00002
  4. Lerner D, Henke RM. What does research tell us about depression, job performance, and work productivity? J Occup Environ Med 2008;50(4):401-410. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31816bae50
  5. Perko K, Kinnunen U, Feldt T. Transformational leadership and depressive symptoms among employees: mediating factors. Leadersh Organ Dev J 2014;35(4):286-304. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-07-2012-0082
  6. Prisciandaro JJ, Roberts JE. A taxometric investigation of unipolar depression in the national comorbidity survey. J Abnorm Psychol 2005;114(4):718-728. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.114.4.718
  7. Kuoppala J, Lamminpaa A, Liira J, Vainio H. Leadership, job well-being, and health effects--a systematic review and a meta-analysis. J Occup Environ Med 2008;50(8):904-915. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31817e918d
  8. Schmidt B, Loerbroks A, Herr RM, Wilson MG, Jarczok MN, Litaker D, et al. Associations between supportive leadership and employees self-rated health in an occupational sample. Int J Behav Med 2014;21(5):750-756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9345-7
  9. Judge TA, Piccolo RF. Transformational and transactional leadership: a meta-analytic test of their relative validity. J Appl Psychol 2004;89(5):755-768. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.5.755
  10. Munir F, Nielsen K, Carneiro IG. Transformational leadership and depressive symptoms: a prospective study. J Affect Disord 2010;120(1-3):235-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.03.020
  11. Schmidt B, Loerbroks A, Herr R, Litaker D, Wilson M, Kastner M, et al. Psychosocial resources and the relationship between transformational leadership and employees' psychological strain. Work 2014;49(2):315-324. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-131713
  12. Podsakoff PM, MacKenzie SB, Moorman RH, Fetter R. Transformational leader behaviors and their effects on followers' trust in leader, satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviors. Leadersh Q 1990;1(2):107-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/1048-9843(90)90009-7
  13. Heinitz K, Rowold J. Psychometric properties of a German adaptation of the Transformational Leadership Inventory (TLI) by Podsakoff. Ger J Work Organ Psychol 2007;51(1):1-15 (German).
  14. Felfe J. Validation of a German version of the "Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire" (MLQ Form 5 x Short) by Bass and Avolio (1995). Ger J Work Organ Psychol 2006;50(2):61-78 (German).
  15. Bass BM. Two decades of research and development in transformational leadership. Eur J Work Organ Psychol 1999;8(1):9-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/135943299398410
  16. Podsakoff PM, MacKenzie SB, Bommer WH. Meta-analysis of the relationships between Kerr and Jermier's substitutes for leadership and employee job attitudes, role perceptions, and performance. J Appl Psychol 1996;81(4):380-399. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.81.4.380
  17. Nielsen K, Randall R, Yarker J, Brenner SO. The effects of transformational leadership on followers' perceived work characteristics and psychological well-being: a longitudinal study. Work Stress 2008;22(1):16-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370801979430
  18. Arnold KA. Transformational leadership and employee psychological well-being: a review and directions for future research. J Occup Health Psychol 2017;22(3):381-393. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000062
  19. Hinz A, Schwarz R. Test information. Diagnostica 2002;48(2):112-113 (German). https://doi.org/10.1026//0012-1924.48.2.112
  20. Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1983;67(6):361-370. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x
  21. Bjelland I, Dahl AA, Haug TT, Neckelmann D. The validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. An updated literature review. J Psychosom Res 2002;52(2):69-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(01)00296-3
  22. Herrmann C. International experiences with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale--a review of validation data and clinical results. J Psychosom Res 1997;42(1):17-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(96)00216-4
  23. Stewart WF, Ricci JA, Chee E, Hahn SR, Morganstein D. Cost of lost productive work time among US workers with depression. JAMA 2003;289(23):3135-3144. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.23.3135
  24. Sainani KL. Dealing with non-normal data. PM R 2012;4(12):1001-1005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.10.013
  25. Hooper D, Coughlan J, Mullen M. Structural equation modelling: guidelines for determining model fit. Electron J Bus Res Methods 2008;6(1):53-60.
  26. Hu LT, Bentler PM. Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Struct Equ Modeling 1999;6(1):1-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
  27. Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, Dans T, Avezum A, Lanas F, et al. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet 2004;364(9438):937-952. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17018-9
  28. Herr RM, Li J, Bosch JA, Schmidt B, DeJoy DM, Fischer JE, et al. Psychometric properties of a German organizational justice questionnaire (G-OJQ) and its association with self-rated health: findings from the Mannheim Industrial Cohort Studies (MICS). Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2014;87(1):85-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0839-4
  29. Harms PD, Crede M, Tynan M, Leon M, Jeung W. Leadership and stress: a meta-analytic review. Leadersh Q 2017;28(1):178-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2016.10.006
  30. Lyons JB, Schneider TR. The effects of leadership style on stress outcomes. Leadersh Q 2009;20(5):737-748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2009.06.010
  31. Wegge J, Shemla M, Haslam SA. Leader behavior as a determinant of health at work: specification and evidence of five key pathways. Ger J Hum Resour Manag 2014;28(1-2):6-23 (German). https://doi.org/10.1177/239700221402800102
  32. Nielsen K, Daniels K. Does shared and differentiated transformational leadership predict followers' working conditions and well-being? Leadersh Q 2012;23(3):383-397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.09.001
  33. Arnold KA, Turner N, Barling J, Kelloway EK, McKee MC. Transformational leadership and psychological well-being: the mediating role of meaningful work. J Occup Health Psychol 2007;12(3):193-203. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.12.3.193
  34. Zwingmann I, Wegge J, Wolf S, Rudolf M, Schmidt M, Richter P. Is transformational leadership healthy for employees? A multilevel analysis in 16 nations. Ger J Hum Resour Manag 2014;28(1-2):24-51 (German). https://doi.org/10.1177/239700221402800103
  35. Stansfeld SA, Fuhrer R, Head J, Ferrie J, Shipley M. Work and psychiatric disorder in the Whitehall II Study. J Psychosom Res 1997;43(1):73-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(97)00001-9
  36. Seltzer J, Numerof RE, BASS BM. Transformational leadership: Is it a source of more burnout and stress? J Health Hum Resour Adm 1989;12(2):174-185.
  37. Zineldin M, Hytter A. Leaders' negative emotions and leadership styles influencing subordinates' well-being. Int J Hum Resour Manag 2012;23(4):748-758. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2011.606114
  38. Theorell T, Hammarstrom A, Aronsson G, Traskman Bendz L, Grape T, Hogstedt C, et al. A systematic review including meta-analysis of work environment and depressive symptoms. BMC Public Health 2015;15:738. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1954-4