The influence of leader relational energy on employee cognitive well-being: A moderated mediation model

Danping Liu; Siyuan Gui; Bingran Zhang; Haiyin Gao; Xiao Yu; Miaoxuan Wu

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.940180

The influence of leader relational energy on employee cognitive well-being: A moderated mediation model

Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 16:13:940180. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.940180. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Danping Liu^{1

2}, Siyuan Gui³, Bingran Zhang⁴, Haiyin Gao⁵, Xiao Yu², Miaoxuan Wu³

Affiliations

¹ School of Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China.
² Research Institute of International Economics and Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China.
³ Xihua Honor College, Xihua University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Department of Medical Administration, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁵ School of Health Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

To demonstrate how cognitive well-being effectively occurs, this study examines the interactive effects of relational energy on cognitive well-being. Based on conservation of resource (COR) theory, this study expands understanding of the relationship between leader relational energy and employee cognitive well-being, using 245 employees as the sample in the experiment of exploring the mediation role of work absorption. Meanwhile, the significance of co-worker relational energy is highlighted as a key boundary condition for effective leader relational energy. The results of a three-wave time study in China showed that employee work absorption played a mediating role between leader relational energy and employee cognitive well-being. In addition, co-worker relational energy moderated the relationship between leadership relational energy and work absorption. This study provides novel insights into management practice for leaders to improve employee cognitive well-being.

Keywords: coworker relational energy; employee cognitive well-being; leader relational energy; moderated mediation; work absorption.