First Advisor

Charlotte Fritz

Date of Publication

Fall 11-13-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Language

English

Subjects

Leadership -- Psychological aspects, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Supervision of employees

DOI

10.15760/etd.5945

Physical Description

1 online resource (v, 87 pages)

Abstract

Mindfulness has recently gained attention within work contexts. Mindfulness training interventions (e.g., mindfulness-based stress reduction; MBSR) are commonly implemented for employees within organizations. Mindfulness has been associated with multiple employee performance, relational, and well-being outcomes. Although mindfulness has become a popular practice within organizations, empirical research falls behind and has not explored many potential research avenues. As leaders play influential roles within organizations, mindfulness may influence leader behaviors, to an extent that leader mindfulness affects employees. This study examined the relationship between supervisor mindfulness and leader-member exchange (LMX), which entails quality of mutual support, trust, and respect within supervisor-subordinate relationships. In addition, the proposed study sought to empirically support proposed theoretical frameworks by examining affective, cognitive, and behavioral mechanisms of empathic concern, perspective taking, and response flexibility, as mediators in the supervisor mindfulness-LMX relationship. Supervisor workload was also examined as a moderator to assess conditions under which the supervisor mindfulness-LMX relationship exists. A sample of 202 individuals who currently supervise employees was collected using the online survey platform, Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Two approaches towards mediation provided support for the mediating roles of empathic concern and response flexibility in the relationship between supervisor mindfulness and LMX. Theoretical and practical contributions, as well as limitations and future directions are discussed.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23376

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS