Psychological Capital and Work Stress Mediated by Authentic Leadership and Moderated by Gender

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate a model that examines the effect of psychological capital on work stress, the mediation of authentic leadership, and the moderating effect of gender on this relationship. The study used a structural equation analysis to validate the research hypotheses in a sample of firms from different industries. The results confirm that psychological capital has a negative impact on work stress, as well as a positive relationship with authentic leadership, and the latter has a negative impact on work stress. The mediating effect of authentic leadership on the relationship between psychological capital and work stress was also confirmed. In addition, gender moderation shows that the impact of psychological capital on reducing work stress is stronger for women than for men. The findings provide conceptual information for improving employee performance by empirically validating the relationship between three constructs that have not previously been studied in an integrated manner. It also takes into account the differences between men and women in coping with work stress, which is very important for organizations. The surveys of the constructs studied are a potential source of information for managers because they help identify factors that contribute to improved employee performance. As with all research that examines psychological constructs, the present study has limitations related to the operationalization of these constructs. Future studies could replicate and extend the research in other economic sectors and with other demographic and cultural variables. The influence of other contexts on the relationships studied could be identified.