Psychological well-being: a multilevel analysis of servant leadership, work-family balance, and psychological meaningfulness

Purpose This study aims to investigate the multilevel relationship between servant leadership and nurses’ psychological well-being (PWB), with work–family balance (WFB) as a mediator and psychological meaningfulness as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a time-lagged field survey in seven Egyptian hospitals (22 nursing teams; n = 22 supervisors and 104 nurses). Given the nested data structure, the authors used multilevel modeling, with two waves of data collection separated by a five-month interval. Findings The findings of this study support all hypothesized relationships. Servant leadership positively influenced nurses’ WFB, which in turn enhanced PWB. WFB significantly mediated the relationship between servant leadership and PWB. Furthermore, psychological meaningfulness positively moderates the relationship between WFB and PWB, strengthening the positive effect. Practical implications The findings suggest that health-care organizations should invest in developing servant leadership capabilities, implement WFB initiatives and foster psychological meaningfulness among nursing staff. These interventions could enhance nurses’ PWB and improve organizational outcomes. Originality/value WFB and PWB are crucial concerns in health care, particularly for nurses who face unique challenges in balancing professional and personal demands. Drawing on work–family enrichment theory, this study examines how servant leadership influences nurses’ PWB through WFB.