The Mediating Role of the Psychological Needs of the Work Environment in the Relationship between Value-Based Leadership and Unethical Work Behaviors

Identifying the factors affecting the unethical behavior of employees in the light of leadership components and psychological needs can play an effective role in reducing such behaviors. Based on this, this research aims to investigate the mediating role of the psychological needs of the workplace in the relationship between Value-based leadership and unethical behaviors have been done.                 

The research method is descriptive and the correlational research design is of the structural equation modeling type. The statistical population includes all principals of Sari schools, numbering 486 people. Using stratified random sampling, 191 people were selected as a statistical sample for the study. Three standard questionnaires of value-based leadership, psychological needs of the work environment, and unethical work behaviors were used to collect research data. After collecting the research data, they were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural modeling in SPSS and LISREL statistical software.

The results of structural equations showed that the mediating role of psychological needs of the workplace in the relationship between value-based leadership and individual and organizational unethical behaviors was negative and significant.

As a result, one of the factors that should be taken into consideration in order to reduce unethical behavior is the value-based leadership characteristics and the psychological needs of the work environment.