Assessing Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Nursing Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jordanian Healthcare Institutions
Abstract
Anwer Khader Abdallah Altaany, Nooh Adel Mostafa Alkhateeb and Enas K. Salameh
Background: Leadership styles in nursing play a crucial role in determining the performance and job satisfaction of nurses, ultimately influencing patient care quality. This study examines the relationship between different leadership styles and nursing performance in healthcare institutions in Jordan.
Objective: To explore how transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, and other leadership styles correlate with nursing performance, and to identify socio-demographic factors influencing these relationships.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 registered nurses working in public and private healthcare institutions in Jordan. Participants were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that included the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) to assess leadership styles and a standardized scale to measure nursing performance. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and correlation analysis.
Results: The study found that transformational leadership was strongly positively correlated with nursing performance (r = 0.68, p = 0.001), while transactional leadership showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.53, p = 0.01). Conversely, laissez-faire leadership was negatively correlated with nursing performance (r = -0.42, p = 0.03). ANOVA results revealed significant differences in leadership styles and nursing performance based on age, gender, years of experience, and marital status (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that transformational and transactional leadership styles are positively associated with higher nursing performance, suggesting their effectiveness in enhancing nursing outcomes. In contrast, laissez-faire leadership may lead to poorer performance. These results highlight the importance of adopting active and supportive leadership styles in nursing to improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout, and enhance patient care quality. Healthcare institutions in Jordan should consider leadership training programs that promote transformational and transactional leadership styles to optimize nursing performance.