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Cited by 40Job Satisfaction and Organizational BehaviorStress and Burnout ResearchWorkaholism, burnout, and well-being

A conservation of resources view of the relationship between transformational leadership and emotional exhaustion: The role of extra effort and psychological detachment

Stein, Maie, Schümann, Marlies, Vincent-Höper, Sylvie·2021·Work & Stress
DOI 10.1080/02678373.2020.1832610
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Abstract

In this study, we draw on conservation of resources theory to suggest that transformational leaders’ encouragement of extra effort in followers might reduce or increase followers’ emotional exhaustion depending on their ability to replenish energy reserves. Specifically, we argue that the indirect relationship between transformational leadership (TFL) and followers’ emotional exhaustion via extra effort varies depending on followers’ levels of psychological detachment from work. We tested the hypothesised conditional indirect effect model using three-wave data from 214 employees working in various industries. Regression analyses showed that psychological detachment moderated the indirect relationship between TFL and emotional exhaustion through extra effort such that the indirect relationship was negative with high psychological detachment and positive with low psychological detachment. The findings of this study indicate the importance of recognising that the beneficial effects of TFL in reducing emotional exhaustion may not hold for all followers but are contingent on followers’ levels of psychological detachment. Returning to one of the original premises of the TFL model, i.e. that transformational leaders bring about extra effort from followers, contributes to further understanding that TFL might have a dark side for employee well-being.

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Crossref · 10.1080/02678373.2020.1832610

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77 of 77 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Transformational leaders' encouragement of extra effort can lead to increased emotional exhaustion if followers cannot replenish energy reserves.

    “Transformational leaders' encouragement of extra effort in followers has been found to lead to an increase followers' emotional exhaustion if they do not have the ability to replenish energy reserves (Stein et al., 2021)”

    From The four-day workweek in Australia: insights from early adopters of the 100:80:100 model (2026) · cites this paper as Stein et al., 2021

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Authors
Stein, M., Schümann, M., & Vincent-Höper, S.
Affiliations
  • Universität Hamburg (DE)
  • Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Corresponding author
Stein, Maie
ORCID
Venue
Work & Stress
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2020-10-15
Volume
35
Issue
3
Pages
241-261
ISSN
  • 0267-8373 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-5335
DOI
10.1080/02678373.2020.1832610
OpenAlex
W3109217789
Cited by
40
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Work & Stress (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Workaholism, burnout, and well-being
Keywords
transformational leadership, emotional exhaustion, conservation of resources theory, extra effort, psychological detachment, energy reserves, conditional indirect effect, employee well-being, dark side of leadership

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