Work

The role of secure-base leadership in shaping teacher responses to organizational change in chinese distance higher education

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: This study examines the impact of secure-base leadership on teachers' emotional exhaustion, task performance, and attitudes toward change in the context of Distance Higher Education (DHE) institutions in China. METHODS: The sample consisted of Chinese distance higher education teachers representing diverse demographic and academic profiles. RESULTS: Utilizing a structural equation modeling approach, the findings reveal that secure-base leadership significantly reduces emotional exhaustion and fear of change while enhancing task performance and favorability toward organizational change. Moreover, cynicism, fear, and favor for change are shown to mediate the relationship between secure-base leadership and these outcomes. Cynicism and fear partially mediate the effects of leadership on emotional exhaustion and task performance, while favor of change amplifies the positive relationship between leadership and task performance. CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the importance of secure-base leadership in fostering trust, psychological safety, and adaptability among educators, thereby contributing to teacher well-being and institutional sustainability. These results offer practical implications for leadership development and human resource strategies in navigating the evolving challenges of DHE environments.

Source: Acta Psychologica

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105885

Authors: Yuege Lai, Baiyan Du, YueMin Fang

Institution: Quzhou University

Language: English

Topic: Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,670