A two-nation investigation of Leadership Self-perceptions and Motivation to Lead in early adulthood: The moderating role of Gender and Socio-economic Status

Hoyland, Thomas; Psychogios, Alexandros; Epitropaki, Olga; Damiani, Jonathan; Mukhuty, Sumona; Priestnall, Chris

Abstract

Purpose: Drawing on social-cognitive and motivational literature of leadership, the present study examines the influence of young adults’ self-perceptions of leadership on their leadership self-efficacy and motivation to lead in their future career. We further examine gender and socio-economic status (SES) as important moderators of the proposed relationships. Design/methodology/approach: The present investigation consists of a two-study research design, based on data collected from young adult samples across two culturally different countries, namely UK (N=267) and Japan (N=127). Findings: The study presents evidence of self-perceptions of leadership influencing leadership self-efficacy and motivation to lead. The results further support the mediating role of leader self-efficacy. Regarding the moderating role of gender, results in both samples showed that the effects of leader-self efficacy on motivation to lead were stronger for males. Socio-economic status was found to moderate the effects of leadership self-perceptions of negative ILTs on leadership self-efficacy in the UK sample and the effects of leadership self-perceptions of positive ILTs on leadership self-efficacy in the Japanese sample. Originality: This study fills the gap of empirical research focused on early adulthood influences on leadership development. In particular, this study has a three-fold contribution, by, firstly, developing a conceptual model that examines the role of young adults’ self-perceptions of leadership on their self-efficacy as leaders and motivation-to-lead; secondly examining contingencies of the proposed relationships; and thirdly testing the conceptual model in two countries.

Citation

Hoyland, T., Psychogios, A., Epitropaki, O., Damiani, J., Mukhuty, S., & Priestnall, C. (2021). A two-nation investigation of Leadership Self-perceptions and Motivation to Lead in early adulthood: The moderating role of Gender and Socio-economic Status. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 42(2), 289-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/lodj-03-2020-0112

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2021
• Publication Date: Mar 19, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2021
• Journal: Leadership and Organization Development Journal
• Print ISSN: 0143-7739
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 289-315
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/lodj-03-2020-0112
• Keywords: Young Adults, Implicit Leadership Theories, Leadership Self-efficacy, Motivation to Lead, Gender, Socio-Economic Status.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1247587