JOURNAL ARTICLE

Leading by serving: How can servant leadership influence teacher emotional well-being?

  • Published In: Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 2025, v. 53, n. 3. P. 602 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Zhang, Ying; Liu, Shuping; Aramburo, Corrine Aramburo; Jiang, Jinqiu 3 of 3

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between servant leadership—a leadership style prioritizing followers' well-being and development—and teacher emotional well-being (TEWB) among 449 primary and secondary school teachers in mainland China. Using a multi-mediator model, the study finds that servant leadership positively influences TEWB both directly and indirectly through teachers' use of cognitive reappraisal (an emotion regulation strategy) and recognition of social esteem, while suppression and recognition for care do not significantly mediate this relationship. The findings highlight the importance of servant leadership in fostering teachers' emotional health, particularly by enhancing their emotion regulation abilities and acknowledging their professional contributions, within the challenging contexts of neoliberal educational reforms and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional Information

  • Source:Educational Management Administration & Leadership. 2025/05, Vol. 53, Issue 3, p602
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Business and Management
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1741-1432
  • DOI:10.1177/17411432231182250
  • Accession Number:184747434
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