Leadership styles and work stress: the role of workplace climate and feelings of entrapment

Abstract

Work stress negatively impacts employees' physical and mental health, contributing to conditions like burnout, anxiety, depression, and reduced productivity. This cross-sectional study examines how Charismatic, Autocratic, Democratic, and Laissez-Faire leadership styles influence work stress and feelings of entrapment, with workplace climate as a mediating factor. Data (N = 523) were collected using an online survey and analyzed via structural equation modeling with SmartPLS version 3.2.9. Findings reveal that Charismatic leadership improves workplace climate, reducing stress and entrapment. Democratic leadership indirectly reduces stress through its effect on workplace climate, while Autocratic leadership increases cooperation but elevates stress and entrapment. Laissez-Faire leadership harms workplace climate but does not significantly affect stress levels. The practical implications of these results are that organizational leaders and human resources professionals should consider adopting leadership styles that foster positive workplace climates to mitigate stress and improve employee well-being. However, the study is limited by its cross-sectional design and use of self-reported data, suggesting the need for future studies that adopt longitudinal research methods.