Ethical Leaders Promote Quality of Life Through Fair and Trust-based Relationships

Abstract

Ethical leadership has become an important field of research. This article examines the impact of ethical leadership within the context of healthcare organizations. Based on social learning theory, we examine the relationship between ethical leadership and quality of life, mediated by peer justice and moderated by trust in the leader. Participants in this study consisted of 388 professionals from 59 centers affiliated with “Plena Inclusión”, an NGO whose mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Spain. Results showed a significant relationship between ethical leadership and quality of life, through a partial mediation of overall peer justice. Furthermore, the moderated indirect links between ethical leadership and quality of life through peer justice confirmed high levels of trust in the leader. Theoretical and practical implications and limitations of this research are discussed.

Keywords

• ethical leadership
• peer justice
• quality of life
• trust in the leader