Impact of ethical leadership on job satisfaction: the mediating effect of work-family conflict

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating effect of the work-family conflict in the relation between ethical leadership and job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was answered by 234 nursing professionals working in Portuguese public health institutions. Findings Regression analyses indicate that there is a positive relationship between ethical leadership and satisfaction and a negative relationship between ethical leadership and the nurse's work-family conflict. Furthermore, it was revealed that the work-family conflict mediated (partially) the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction. Originality/value The added value of this empirical study lies in the mediated role of the work-family conflict in the analysis of the relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction.