LMX and Well-Being: Psychological Climates as Moderators of their Concurrent and Lagged Relationships

Abstract

The importance of the quality of leader member exchange (LMX) for workers’ health and well-being is acknowledged in the literature, and empirical research addressing this issue is beginning to accumulate. However, recent reviews on this topic recommend making a greater effort to include time and boundary conditions in this relationship. The present study aims to analyze the effects of LMX on employees’ well-being, and the moderating role of psychological climate, by means of a longitudinal study with a 12-month time lag. Data were obtained from 119 employees working in the Public Health Service . Results show that LMX had concurrent and lagged positive effects on well-being. Perceptions of higher levels of innovation climate increased the positive effects of LMX on well-being. Perceptions of higher levels of goals orientation decreased the positive effects of LMX on well-being. In practical terms, organizations must pay attention to the environment where LMX emerges in order to promote its positive effects or reduce its potential negative effects on workers’ health.

Keywords

• leader-member exchange
• well-being
• organizational climate