Leadership Styles and Intrinsic Motivation among Administrative and Support Staff: An Empirical Analysis from the Perspective of Middle Management

Public higher education organizations face challenges related to administrative efficiency, labor engagement, and the sustainability of support staff performance. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between leadership styles and intrinsic motivation among the administrative and support staff at the Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU), Félix Evaristo Mejía campus. A quantitative approach with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational design was adopted. The sample consisted of 66 administrative staff members selected through convenience sampling. Data collection was carried out using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X) and the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale (MWMS). The analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, multiple linear regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and structural equation modeling. The results showed that transformational and participative leadership styles were positively and significantly associated with intrinsic motivation, while autocratic leadership showed a negative relationship. The findings highlight the importance of middle management leadership in creating organizational environments that promote the intrinsic motivation of administrative staff, providing relevant empirical evidence for human resources management in public higher education institutions.