Exploring the process of ethical leadership on organisational commitment: The mediating role of career calling

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the extent to which career calling mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational commitment. The sample consisted of 943 employees randomly recruited from ten financial organisations in China (females = 39.87%; mean age = 34.76 years, SD = 12.69 years). Employees completed measures of ethical leadership, career calling, and organisational commitment. Mediation analysis applying structural equation modelling and Preacher’s mediation analysis showed that ethical leadership was associated with higher career calling and organisational commitment. Moreover, career calling partially mediated the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational commitment. Human resource managers should display ethical leadership in order to promote employees’ sense of career calling and organisational commitment.

Keywords:

• career calling
• China
• ethical leadership
• finance sector
• organisational commitment