Transactional, Transformational and Passive-avoidant Leadership in Covid Times : A Quantitative Study of Finnish Nurses’ Experiences in the Uusimaa-region
Vainio, Mariela Cecilia (2021)
2021
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021060113208
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021060113208
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study was to investigate Finnish nurses' experiences of leadership (Transformational, Transactional and Passive-avoidant Leadership) before and during the Covid-19 pandemic by using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (5X-Short) (© 1995 Bruce Avolio and Bernard Bass). The study was conducted to reveal nurses’ experienced leadership characteristics, as well as a possible change due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The sample population was limited to registered nurses in the Uusimaa-region in Southern Finland. The participating nurses were instructed to evaluate their nurse managers’ leadership characteristics, and leadership outcomes before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was administered through Metropolia’s E-lomake service during 08.03.2021 – 28.03.2021. The data was collected through several social media platforms. Additional collected background data were age, length of work experience and place of employment. A total of 46 nurses answered the questionnaire. The quantitative data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.
The results revealed that nurses experienced all researched leadership styles (Transformational, Transactional and Passive-avoidant Leadership) on a moderate level before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The data indicated that there was a statistically significant decrease in the nurses’ experience of three of the transformational leadership characteristics during the pandemic. Additionally, a statistical significance was found in the leadership outcome of Satisfaction, which also decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Further data analysis revealed that nurses in the age group “40 years and under” experienced a statistically significant increase in one of the transactional leadership characteristics during the pandemic.
This study indicated that nurses in the Uusimaa-region experienced moderate transformational leadership from their nurse managers. Nurses experienced even less transformational leadership during the pandemic, as well as a decrease in satisfaction with the leadership. This is an important finding as transformational leadership could be one of the solutions in supporting nurses both during, as well as in the aftermath of the pandemic. The small sample size of the study limits the generalization of the results. However, this study still gives valuable information as it gives an indication of the nurses’ experienced leadership, and the change in the leadership due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was administered through Metropolia’s E-lomake service during 08.03.2021 – 28.03.2021. The data was collected through several social media platforms. Additional collected background data were age, length of work experience and place of employment. A total of 46 nurses answered the questionnaire. The quantitative data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.
The results revealed that nurses experienced all researched leadership styles (Transformational, Transactional and Passive-avoidant Leadership) on a moderate level before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The data indicated that there was a statistically significant decrease in the nurses’ experience of three of the transformational leadership characteristics during the pandemic. Additionally, a statistical significance was found in the leadership outcome of Satisfaction, which also decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Further data analysis revealed that nurses in the age group “40 years and under” experienced a statistically significant increase in one of the transactional leadership characteristics during the pandemic.
This study indicated that nurses in the Uusimaa-region experienced moderate transformational leadership from their nurse managers. Nurses experienced even less transformational leadership during the pandemic, as well as a decrease in satisfaction with the leadership. This is an important finding as transformational leadership could be one of the solutions in supporting nurses both during, as well as in the aftermath of the pandemic. The small sample size of the study limits the generalization of the results. However, this study still gives valuable information as it gives an indication of the nurses’ experienced leadership, and the change in the leadership due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.