Examining the mediating effect of trust and psychological well-being on transformational leadership and organizational commitment

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the under-researched work on employees’ organizational commitment by examining transformational leadership (TL) adopted by the leader and the level of trust subordinates have in such a leader. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using convenience sampling and self-administered survey methods from professionals employed in Indian public sector banks (n=236). Findings Findings reveal that the subordinates’ level of trust and psychological well-being partially mediates the relationship between TL and employees’ organizational commitment. Practical implications TL shares a positive relationship with organizational commitment through trust and psychological well-being. Originality/value Even though previous studies on organizational commitment have produced a significant piece of work, this study is among the first to propose and analyze a comprehensive and theoretically grounded structure of TL, organizational commitment, level of trust and employees’ psychological well-being.