Ethical leadership and public healthcare organizational and employee outcomes: the role of psychological meaningfulness

Purpose Based on the theories of social learning, social exchange and social identity, this study aims to examine the impact of ethical leadership on organizational attractiveness and diversity-valuing behavior as well as the mediating role of psychological meaningfulness in the public healthcare sector. Design/methodology/approach Data in this study was collected from 545 nurses working in Palestinian hospitals. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The results show positive effect of ethical leadership on organizational attractiveness and diversity-valuing behavior. The findings likewise support the mediating role of psychological meaningfulness on the focal relationships. Originality/value This study follows a more comprehensive and a multitheoretical approach and it uses a novel model in an underexamined setting, which is the nursing sector.