THE MEDIATING ROLE OF JOB SATISFACTION IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPATHIC LEADERSHIP AND LIFE SATISFACTION

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between empathetic leadership and employees' life satisfaction. The study sample consists of 382 white-collar workers based in Istanbul, employed in office-based roles across human resources, procurement, public relations, finance, and accounting departments of private enterprises. The average age of participants is 36 years. Data were collected using a demographic information form and three different self-report scales. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Bootstrap Analysis were employed for data analysis to determine relationships between variables. Hayes' Process Macro was used for mediation analysis. According to the results of the research, it is understood that empathetic leadership has an effect on employee life satisfaction and job satisfaction has a mediating role in this effect.