Positive Leadership as a Mediator Between Quiet Quitting and Emotion Use in Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to examine the relationship between healthcare workers’ perceptions of the use of emotion, positive leadership, and their levels of quiet quitting tendency, and to analyze the mediating role of positive leadership in the relationship between use of emotion and quiet quitting.
Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research design was adopted by applying a questionnaire to physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff working in the healthcare sector. Data were collected through a survey, and a partial least squares structural equation model was used to test the proposed model and hypotheses.
Results – The findings revealed that positive leadership is negatively associated with quiet quitting and fully mediates the relationship between use of emotion and quiet quitting. In the context of the Turkish healthcare system, the corrective and motivating role of positive leadership in reducing quiet quitting among healthcare workers was confirmed.
Discussion – This study contributes to the literature by revealing the mediating role of positive leadership in the relationship between emotional expression and quiet quitting. The findings emphasize that positive leadership may enhance healthcare service sustainability by fostering employee motivation. However, the generalizability of the results is limited to the healthcare context in Turkey.