Research Article
THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE AND JOB PERFORMANCE: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION FROM SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the mediating role of Psychological Safety (PS) in the relationship between Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Job Performance (JP) in public sports organizations in Türkiye. The study was designed using a relational survey model from quantitative research methods, and data were collected from 319 sports employees working in the provinces of Antalya, İzmir, Mersin, and Mugla. LMX, JP, and PS scales were used in the research, and the data were tested using correlation analysis and SPSS PROCESS Macro. The analysis results showed that LMX has a weak effect on psychological safety (β = .132), and psychological safety significantly predicts JP (β = .592). Even when the mediating variable was controlled, the effect of psychological safety remained significant (β = .209), and the increase in the direct effect of LMX on performance from β = .209 total effect β = .287 supported a partial mediating role. In conclusion, high-quality LMX significantly increase JP when supported by PS. Employees experiencing strong LMX feel more secure, which increases their commitment and effort levels. The findings indicate the necessity of creating trust-based organizational climates to maximize performance in sports organizations.
References
- Aslan, Ş., & Özata, M. (2009). Lider–üye etkileşiminin (LMX) yöneticiye duyulan güven düzeyine etkisi. Sosyal Ekonomik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 9(17), 94–116.
- Baş, T., Keskin, N., & Mert, İ. S. (2010). Leader–member exchange (LMX) model and validity and reliability of its instrument in Turkish. Ege Academic Review, 10(3), 1013–1026. https://doi.org/10.21121/eab.2010319626
- Bhavya Sree, R. N., & Satyavathi, R. (2017). Employee job satisfaction. International Journal of Engineering and Management Research, 7(5), 85–94.
- Biao, L., & Cheng, S. (2014). Leader–member exchange, efficacy and job performance: A cognitive perspective interpretation. Canadian Social Science, 10(5), 244–248.
- Blau, P. M. (1964). Justice in social exchange. Sociological Inquiry, 34(2), 193–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1964.tb00583.x
- Breevaart, K., Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Van den Heuvel, M. (2015). Leader–member exchange, work engagement, and job performance. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 30(7), 754–770. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-03-2013-0088
- Bülbül, S., İşiaçık, S., & Aytaç, S. (2022). Measurement of perceived psychological safety: Integration, review and evidence for the scale in the context of Turkey. Journal of Economy, Culture and Society, 65, 15–28. https://doi.org/10.26650/jecs2021-974757
- Büyüköztürk, Ş., Çokluk, Ö., & Köklü, N. (2018). Sosyal bilimler için istatistik (6. bs.). Pegem Akademi.
- Carmeli, A., Brueller, D., & Dutton, J. E. (2010). Learning behaviours in the workplace: The role of high-quality interpersonal relationships and psychological safety. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 27(1), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.964
- Cropanzano, R., & Mitchell, M. S. (2005). Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 31(6), 874–900. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206305279602
- Cui, T., Yue, J., & Yu, N. (2025). Leader–member exchange and differentiation: Implications for civil servant performance. Systems, 13(11), 1002. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13111002
- Çekmecelioğlu, H. G., & Ülker, F. (2014). Leader–member exchange and its impact on employee attitudes: A research on the education sector. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 28, 35–58.
- Çöl, G. (2008). Algılanan güçlendirmenin işgören performansı üzerine etkileri. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, 9(1), 35–46.
- Dansereau, F., Graen, G., & Haga, W. J. (1975). A vertical dyad linkage approach to leadership. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 13(1), 46–78.
- Dar, N., Kundi, Y. M., & Umrani, W. A. (2024). Leader–member exchange and discretionary work behaviors: The mediating role of perceived psychological safety. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 45(4), 636–650. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2023-0034
- Dilig-Ruiz, A., MacDonald, I., Varin, M. D., Vandyk, A., Graham, I. D., & Squires, J. E. (2018). Job satisfaction among critical care nurses: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 88, 123–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.08.014
- Diebig, M., Gritzka, S., Angerer, P., Erschens, R., Gast, M., Gündel, H., & Klasmeier, K. N. (2024). Leader–member exchange differentiation and followers’ psychological strain. Current Psychology, 43, 23115–23129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04596-6
- Dirlik, O., Topbaş, M. E., & Ömüriş, E. (2023). Leader–member exchange and job performance in municipalities: The mediating effect of organizational commitment. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İİBF Dergisi, 18(2), 381–396. https://doi.org/10.17153/oguiibf.1256794
- Doğan, H. (2020). The conceptual evaluation of job performance and performance evaluation system. International Journal of Business and Economic Studies, 2(1), 44–55.
- Duyan, M. (2021). The effect of internal marketing practices on organizational citizenship behaviors. Journal of Sport Sciences Researches, 6(1), 76–87. https://doi.org/10.25307/jssr.891016
- Duyan, M. (2022). The mediating role of job satisfaction in the effect of leader–member exchange on burnout. Journal of Theoretical Educational Science, 15(2), 264–286. https://doi.org/10.30831/akukeg.992828
- Duyan, M., & Yıldız, S. M. (2018). The effect of leader–member exchange on job performance of academic staff. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(2), 1129–1136. https://doi.org/10.14687/jhs.v15i2.5162
- Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.
- Edmondson, A. C., & Lei, Z. (2014). Psychological safety: The history, renaissance, and future of an interpersonal construct. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1, 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091305
- Erkuş, A., & Fındıklı, M. A. (2013). Psychological capital’s impact on job satisfaction, job performance, and intention to quit. Istanbul University Journal of the School of Business, 42(2), 302–318.
- Frazier, M. L., Fainshmidt, S., Klinger, R. L., Pezeshkan, A., & Vracheva, V. (2017). Psychological safety: A meta-analytic review. Personnel Psychology, 70(1), 113–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12183
- George, D., & Mallery, P. (2010). SPSS for Windows step by step (10th ed.). Pearson.
- Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Ilies, R., Nahrgang, J. D., & Morgeson, F. P. (2007). Leader–member exchange and citizenship behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(1), 269–277.
- Kahn, W. A. (1990). Psychological conditions of personal engagement and disengagement at work. Academy of Management Journal, 33(4), 692–724.
- Kim, T., Liu, Z., & Diefendorff, J. M. (2015). Leader–member exchange and job performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(2), 216–231.
- Liden, R. C., & Maslyn, J. M. (1998). Multidimensionality of leader–member exchange. Journal of Management, 24(1), 43–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639802400105
- Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding burnout. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
- Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage.
LİDER-ÜYE DEĞİŞİMİ İLE İŞ PERFORMANSI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİDE PSİKOLOJİK GÜVENLİĞİN ARACILIK ROLÜ: SPOR ORGANİZASYONLARINDA AMPİRİK BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Abstract
Bu çalışma, Türkiye'deki kamu spor organizasyonlarında Lider-Üye Etkileşimi (LÜE) ile İş Performansı (İŞ) arasındaki ilişkide Psikolojik Güvenliğin (PS) aracılık rolünü incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılarak tasarlanmış olup, Antalya, İzmir, Mersin ve Muğla illerinde çalışan 319 spor çalışanından veri toplanmıştır. Araştırmada LÜE, İŞ ve İŞ ölçekleri kullanılmış olup, veriler korelasyon analizi ve SPSS PROCESS Makro kullanılarak test edilmiştir. Analiz sonuçları, LÜE'nin psikolojik güvenlik üzerinde güçlü bir etkiye sahip olduğunu (β = .132) ve psikolojik güvenliğin İŞ'i anlamlı şekilde yordadığını (β = .592) göstermiştir. Aracılık değişkeni kontrol edildiğinde bile psikolojik güvenliğin etkisi anlamlı kalmış (β = .209) ve LÜE'nin performans üzerindeki doğrudan etkisinin β = .209'dan β = .287'ye çıkması kısmi aracılık rolünü desteklemektedir. Sonuç olarak, yüksek kaliteli LÜE, İŞ ile desteklendiğinde İŞ'i anlamlı şekilde artırmaktadır. Güçlü LMX deneyimine sahip çalışanlar kendilerini daha güvende hissederler, bu da bağlılık ve çaba düzeylerini artırır. Bulgular, spor organizasyonlarında performansı en üst düzeye çıkarmak için güvene dayalı organizasyonel iklimler yaratmanın gerekliliğini göstermektedir.
References
- Aslan, Ş., & Özata, M. (2009). Lider–üye etkileşiminin (LMX) yöneticiye duyulan güven düzeyine etkisi. Sosyal Ekonomik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 9(17), 94–116.
- Baş, T., Keskin, N., & Mert, İ. S. (2010). Leader–member exchange (LMX) model and validity and reliability of its instrument in Turkish. Ege Academic Review, 10(3), 1013–1026. https://doi.org/10.21121/eab.2010319626
- Bhavya Sree, R. N., & Satyavathi, R. (2017). Employee job satisfaction. International Journal of Engineering and Management Research, 7(5), 85–94.
- Biao, L., & Cheng, S. (2014). Leader–member exchange, efficacy and job performance: A cognitive perspective interpretation. Canadian Social Science, 10(5), 244–248.
- Blau, P. M. (1964). Justice in social exchange. Sociological Inquiry, 34(2), 193–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1964.tb00583.x
- Breevaart, K., Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Van den Heuvel, M. (2015). Leader–member exchange, work engagement, and job performance. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 30(7), 754–770. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-03-2013-0088
- Bülbül, S., İşiaçık, S., & Aytaç, S. (2022). Measurement of perceived psychological safety: Integration, review and evidence for the scale in the context of Turkey. Journal of Economy, Culture and Society, 65, 15–28. https://doi.org/10.26650/jecs2021-974757
- Büyüköztürk, Ş., Çokluk, Ö., & Köklü, N. (2018). Sosyal bilimler için istatistik (6. bs.). Pegem Akademi.
- Carmeli, A., Brueller, D., & Dutton, J. E. (2010). Learning behaviours in the workplace: The role of high-quality interpersonal relationships and psychological safety. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 27(1), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.964
- Cropanzano, R., & Mitchell, M. S. (2005). Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 31(6), 874–900. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206305279602
- Cui, T., Yue, J., & Yu, N. (2025). Leader–member exchange and differentiation: Implications for civil servant performance. Systems, 13(11), 1002. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13111002
- Çekmecelioğlu, H. G., & Ülker, F. (2014). Leader–member exchange and its impact on employee attitudes: A research on the education sector. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 28, 35–58.
- Çöl, G. (2008). Algılanan güçlendirmenin işgören performansı üzerine etkileri. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, 9(1), 35–46.
- Dansereau, F., Graen, G., & Haga, W. J. (1975). A vertical dyad linkage approach to leadership. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 13(1), 46–78.
- Dar, N., Kundi, Y. M., & Umrani, W. A. (2024). Leader–member exchange and discretionary work behaviors: The mediating role of perceived psychological safety. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 45(4), 636–650. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2023-0034
- Dilig-Ruiz, A., MacDonald, I., Varin, M. D., Vandyk, A., Graham, I. D., & Squires, J. E. (2018). Job satisfaction among critical care nurses: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 88, 123–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.08.014
- Diebig, M., Gritzka, S., Angerer, P., Erschens, R., Gast, M., Gündel, H., & Klasmeier, K. N. (2024). Leader–member exchange differentiation and followers’ psychological strain. Current Psychology, 43, 23115–23129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04596-6
- Dirlik, O., Topbaş, M. E., & Ömüriş, E. (2023). Leader–member exchange and job performance in municipalities: The mediating effect of organizational commitment. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İİBF Dergisi, 18(2), 381–396. https://doi.org/10.17153/oguiibf.1256794
- Doğan, H. (2020). The conceptual evaluation of job performance and performance evaluation system. International Journal of Business and Economic Studies, 2(1), 44–55.
- Duyan, M. (2021). The effect of internal marketing practices on organizational citizenship behaviors. Journal of Sport Sciences Researches, 6(1), 76–87. https://doi.org/10.25307/jssr.891016
- Duyan, M. (2022). The mediating role of job satisfaction in the effect of leader–member exchange on burnout. Journal of Theoretical Educational Science, 15(2), 264–286. https://doi.org/10.30831/akukeg.992828
- Duyan, M., & Yıldız, S. M. (2018). The effect of leader–member exchange on job performance of academic staff. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(2), 1129–1136. https://doi.org/10.14687/jhs.v15i2.5162
- Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.
- Edmondson, A. C., & Lei, Z. (2014). Psychological safety: The history, renaissance, and future of an interpersonal construct. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1, 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091305
- Erkuş, A., & Fındıklı, M. A. (2013). Psychological capital’s impact on job satisfaction, job performance, and intention to quit. Istanbul University Journal of the School of Business, 42(2), 302–318.
- Frazier, M. L., Fainshmidt, S., Klinger, R. L., Pezeshkan, A., & Vracheva, V. (2017). Psychological safety: A meta-analytic review. Personnel Psychology, 70(1), 113–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12183
- George, D., & Mallery, P. (2010). SPSS for Windows step by step (10th ed.). Pearson.
- Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Ilies, R., Nahrgang, J. D., & Morgeson, F. P. (2007). Leader–member exchange and citizenship behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(1), 269–277.
- Kahn, W. A. (1990). Psychological conditions of personal engagement and disengagement at work. Academy of Management Journal, 33(4), 692–724.
- Kim, T., Liu, Z., & Diefendorff, J. M. (2015). Leader–member exchange and job performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(2), 216–231.
- Liden, R. C., & Maslyn, J. M. (1998). Multidimensionality of leader–member exchange. Journal of Management, 24(1), 43–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639802400105
- Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding burnout. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
- Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage.
There are 34 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Sports Activity Management |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Submission Date | October 13, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Publication Date | December 22, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 6 Issue: 3 |
s