SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS: MEDIATING ROLE OF WORK ENGAGEMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE

Abstract

It is a known fact that the medical profession is demanding and doctors are exposed to workplace situations which can deter their Psychological Well-being. Based on conservation of resource theory, this study examines how servant leadership is linked with the psychological well-being of medical practitioners. The study also examined the mediating role of job engagement and psychological resilience as an underlying mechanism explaining the direct effect. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 364 doctors working in public and private hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the measurement and structural model. The hypothesis testing results show all hypotheses were accepted. Servant leadership was positively related to psychological well-being, job engagement and resilience. Similarly, job engagement and resilience were positively related to psychological well-being. Mediation analysis results revealed significant mediation of job engagement and resilience. The findings suggest that servant leadership is a potent resource that can enhance other psychological and contextual resources leading to greater well-being among medical practitioners. The study highlights the need for leadership development initiatives in the health care setting, particularly in developing countries.