Examining the effects of despotic leadership on nurses in the face of emotional exhaustion, organizational silence, and revanchist behaviors

Akdoğan M., Yeşildal A., Tekin B., Kıray A., Uslu Y., Arslanoğlu A., ...Daha Fazla

BMC NURSING, cilt.24, sa.462, ss.2-13, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 24 Sayı: 462
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1186/s12912-025-02929-w
  • Dergi Adı: BMC NURSING
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2-13
  • İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Abstract

Background: Nurses are integral to healthcare, ensuring the effective functioning of healthcare services. Despite

their crucial role, they face significant stressors, including despotic leadership. This type of leadership results in

adverse outcomes such as organizational silence, emotional exhaustion, and revanchist behaviors. This study aims to

comprehensively understand the detrimental effects of despotic leadership on nurses’ well-being and behaviors, and

to investigate the complex relationships between despotic leadership, organizational silence, emotional exhaustion,

and revanchist behaviors in the nurses.

Methods: In the study, data were collected from 216 nurses working at a public hospital in Kocaeli (Türkiye) and

hypotheses were tested through path analysis based on structural equation modeling (sequential mediation model).

Results: The data analysis revealed that despotic leadership contributes to emotional exhaustion and organizational

silence respectively, which in turn lead to employees engaging in revanchist behaviors. However, although emotional

exhaustion does not mediate the relationship between despotic leadership and revanchist behaviors, it does mediate

the relationship between despotic leadership and organizational silence. Additionally, despotic leadership triggers

organizational silence, which in turn results in revanchist behaviors.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the detrimental effects of despotic leadership on nurses’ mental health and

professional behavior. Despotic leadership creates a toxic work environment that suppresses nurses’ voices, leading

to emotional exhaustion and revanchist behaviors. Eliminating despotic leadership practices and promoting open

communication are essential to improving nurses’ well-being and maintaining a healthy healthcare environment.

Keywords: Despotic leadership, Organizational silence, Emotional exhaustion, Revanchist behaviors, Nurse

management