Leader‐Follower Congruence in Need for Achievement and Work Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Leader‐Member Exchange

The effect of mindfulness and psychological capital on mental health of breast cancer patients: Based on polynomial regression and response surface analysis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the combined effects of mindfulness and psychological capital on mental health of breast cancer patients and to examine the mediating effect of positive emotions in their relationship.

METHODS

A convenient sampling method was used in this study, and 522 breast cancer patients aged 18 to 59 who received chemotherapy in a tertiary cancer hospital were enrolled. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis was mainly employed to explore the relationship between mindfulness, psychological capital, and mental health. A block-variable approach was used to verify the mediating effect of positive emotions.

RESULTS

In cases of congruence, mental health was better when mindfulness and psychological capital were both high instead of being both low (the slope of the congruence was 0.540, p < 0.001); In cases of incongruence, poorer mental health was found in breast cancer patients with low psychological capital and high mindfulness compared with those who had high psychological capital and low mindfulness (the slope of the incongruence was -0.338, p < 0.001), and the combined effects were a positive curve (positive U-shaped) related to mental health (β = 0.102, p = 0.040). In addition, positive emotions played a mediating role in the relationship between the block variable (mindfulness and psychological capital) and mental health, and the indirect effect was 0.131.

CONCLUSIONS

This study expanded the research on the effects of mindfulness and psychological capital in improving mental health as well as the conflict between the two variables related to mental health by employing a new analytical technique among breast cancer patients.

How to recover from difficult condition? The relationship between leader-employee congruence in creativity goal and innovative performance

Purpose

Drawing upon the literature on person-leader supplementary fit literature, this study aims to positions dissatisfaction with organizational performance as a difficult condition that moderates the relationship between leader-employee congruence/incongruence in creativity goal and employee innovative performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper data were collected from 226 leader-employee dyads from several information technology companies in China. Polynomial regression combined with the response surface methodology was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Three conclusions were drawn. First, employee innovative performance was maximized when leaders and employees were congruence in creativity goal. Second, in the case of congruence, employee had higher innovative performance when a leader's and an employee's creativity goal matched at high levels. Third, dissatisfaction with organizational performance moderated the effect of leader – employee congruence in creativity goal on employee innovative performance.

Originality/value

This study enhanced theoretical developments by considering the importance of leaders' congruence with employees in creativity goal for the first time. Additionally, the research results provided better practical guidance for how to help employees recover from difficult condition and continue to participate in innovation.