Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support

Orientation: The manufacturing sector in South Africa faces a variety of human resource challenges that necessitate leadership and employee resilience that enables organisation performance despite these circumstances. Research purpose: This study explored the relationship between authentic leadersh...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Deon J. Kleynhans, Marita M. Heyns, Tessa De Wet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-07-01
Series:SA Journal of Human Resource Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/3057
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850027958405693440
author Deon J. Kleynhans
Marita M. Heyns
Tessa De Wet
author_facet Deon J. Kleynhans
Marita M. Heyns
Tessa De Wet
author_sort Deon J. Kleynhans
collection DOAJ
description Orientation: The manufacturing sector in South Africa faces a variety of human resource challenges that necessitate leadership and employee resilience that enables organisation performance despite these circumstances. Research purpose: This study explored the relationship between authentic leadership (AL) and psychological well-being (PW) in this sector while considering the potential indirect effect of organisational support (OS). Motivation for the study: The labour intensity of this industry necessitates a leadership style that will create an environment that enhances employee behaviour, experiences and performance during uncertain times. Positive, value-driven leadership styles such as AL can assist in addressing many of these challenges. Research approach/design and method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was utilised, incorporating the AL Inventory and selected items from the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) and Flourishing-at-Work Scales (FAWS). Main findings: The study revealed that AL was significantly and positively associated with PW both directly and indirectly through OS, with the indirect effect via OS being statistically more pronounced than the direct effect on PW. Practical/managerial implications: Authentic leadership can, directly and indirectly, enhance employees’ PW significantly, and the effect is strengthened by OS, notwithstanding challenging work conditions. Contribution/value-add: By underscoring the facilitative role of OS, the findings enable leaders to enhance employees’ PW, ultimately contributing to workforce performance as well as organisational and sector growth.
format Article
id doaj-art-7433253301e248efaca45a2bb9fb5e7b
institution DOAJ
issn 1683-7584
2071-078X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher AOSIS
record_format Article
series SA Journal of Human Resource Management
spelling doaj-art-7433253301e248efaca45a2bb9fb5e7b2025-08-20T02:59:58ZengAOSISSA Journal of Human Resource Management1683-75842071-078X2025-07-01230e1e1010.4102/sajhrm.v23i0.3057917Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational supportDeon J. Kleynhans0Marita M. Heyns1Tessa De Wet2Optentia Research Unit, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, VanderbijlparkOptentia Research Unit, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, VanderbijlparkOptentia Research Unit, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; and, Integrated Development & Employment Alliances (IDEA), PretoriaOrientation: The manufacturing sector in South Africa faces a variety of human resource challenges that necessitate leadership and employee resilience that enables organisation performance despite these circumstances. Research purpose: This study explored the relationship between authentic leadership (AL) and psychological well-being (PW) in this sector while considering the potential indirect effect of organisational support (OS). Motivation for the study: The labour intensity of this industry necessitates a leadership style that will create an environment that enhances employee behaviour, experiences and performance during uncertain times. Positive, value-driven leadership styles such as AL can assist in addressing many of these challenges. Research approach/design and method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was utilised, incorporating the AL Inventory and selected items from the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) and Flourishing-at-Work Scales (FAWS). Main findings: The study revealed that AL was significantly and positively associated with PW both directly and indirectly through OS, with the indirect effect via OS being statistically more pronounced than the direct effect on PW. Practical/managerial implications: Authentic leadership can, directly and indirectly, enhance employees’ PW significantly, and the effect is strengthened by OS, notwithstanding challenging work conditions. Contribution/value-add: By underscoring the facilitative role of OS, the findings enable leaders to enhance employees’ PW, ultimately contributing to workforce performance as well as organisational and sector growth.https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/3057authentic leadershippsychological well-beingorganisational supportmediation modelconfirmatory factor analysismanufacturingsouth africaquantitative research
spellingShingle Deon J. Kleynhans
Marita M. Heyns
Tessa De Wet
Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support
SA Journal of Human Resource Management
authentic leadership
psychological well-being
organisational support
mediation model
confirmatory factor analysis
manufacturing
south africa
quantitative research
title Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support
title_full Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support
title_fullStr Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support
title_full_unstemmed Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support
title_short Authentic leadership and psychological well-being: The role of organisational support
title_sort authentic leadership and psychological well being the role of organisational support
topic authentic leadership
psychological well-being
organisational support
mediation model
confirmatory factor analysis
manufacturing
south africa
quantitative research
url https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/3057
work_keys_str_mv AT deonjkleynhans authenticleadershipandpsychologicalwellbeingtheroleoforganisationalsupport
AT maritamheyns authenticleadershipandpsychologicalwellbeingtheroleoforganisationalsupport
AT tessadewet authenticleadershipandpsychologicalwellbeingtheroleoforganisationalsupport