Role of physician leadership styles in wellbeing at work: a bibliometric analysis and narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63434/30286999.150Keywords:
leadership, physicians, review, occupational health, Well-beingAbstract
The work environment in health is challenging, as it subjects workers to long hours, high emotional load, complexity of the system and scarcity of resources, which contributes to the burnout, exhaustion and even resignation of personnel. In this context, the leader plays an essential role in the success of a project and in the well-being of his team.
Objective: to identify the characteristics of different leadership styles and analyze their influence on physicians’ workplace well-being.
Methods: A bibliometric analysis, using keywords such as "leadership", "workplace" and "physicians". The search was conducted in scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed, covering the last five years (2020–2024). For analysis, VOSviewer was used, a tool that allowed for the scientific mapping of the relationship between keywords in the research network. The literature included was then described narratively.
Results: medical leadership is decisive in the well-being of the health team at work. Transformational, effective, and inclusive styles had a greater positive impact, as they are associated with better mental health and team well-being. In contrast, laissez-faire leadership showed a negative impact.
Conclusion: it is essential to foster leadership in medical personnel to improve labor relations and the organizational climate. It is recommended to train physicians in human management and administration, to better prepare them for leadership roles in complex hospital settings.
References
1. Organización Mundial de la Salud. Salud ocupacional: los trabajadores de la salud [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 6]. https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/occupational-health--health-workers
2. Loján-Alvarado JC, Loján-Alvarado JC, Pinos-Vélez EG, Sarmiento-Espinoza WH. Habilidades gerenciales como estrategias que inciden en las organizaciones de salud. Polo del Conocimiento. 2022 May 12;7(5):899–912. https://doi.org/10.23857/pc.v7i5.4002
3. Capa L, Benitez R, Capa X. El liderazgo como fuente de ventaja competitiva para las organizaciones. Universidad y Sociedad [Internet]. 2018;10(2). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/pdf/rus/v10n2/2218-3620-rus-10-02-285.pdf
4. Liden RC, Wang X, Wang Y. The evolution of leadership: Past insights, present trends, and future directions. J Bus Res [Internet]. 2025 Jan 1 [cited 2025 Nov 17];186:115036. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSRES.2024.115036
5. Fajardo Torres FM. Liderazgo transformacional y el desarrollo del talento humano: un estudio correlacional. Impulso, Revista de Administración. 2025 Jan 1;5(9):368–83. https://doi.org/10.59659/IMPULSO.V.5I9.89
6. Farid T, Iqbal S, Basahal AS, Khattak A, Khan MK, Salam MA. “Doing good and feeling good” Relationship between authentic leadership with followers’ work engagement: The mediating role of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Front Public Health. 2022 Nov 18;10:1018599. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPUBH.2022.1018599/BIBTEX PMID:36466465
7. Stoewen DL. Veterinary Wellness Bien-être vétérinaire Wellness at work: Building healthy workplaces. [cited 2024 Oct 23];
8. Hassard J, Wong I, Wang W. Workplace empowerment, psychological empowerment and work-related wellbeing in southeast Asian employees: a cross-sectional survey. Health Promot Int [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Oct 23];37:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daac113
9. Workplace Wellness - Global Wellness Institute [Internet]. [cited 2024 Oct 23]. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/workplace-wellness/ (accessed 2024 Oct 23)
10. Arif AN, Oliver A. Optimizing Work Relationships for Well-Being. Vol. 34, Thoracic surgery clinics. 2024. p. 261–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thorsurg.2024.04.011
11. Yurani Andrea Alfonso. Renuncias del personal de enfermería y eventos adversos en los servicios hospitalarios de adultos del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. Bogotá 2013-2015. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; 2016.
12. Palencia-Sánchez F. Salud mental en trabajadores del sector salud desde un enfoque integral. Revista protección & seguridad. 2025 Mar;(420):44–50
13. Spilg EG, McNeill K, Dodd-Moher M, Dobransky JS, Sabri E, Maniate JM, et al. Physician Leadership and Its Effect on Physician Burnout and Satisfaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Healthc Leadersh [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Nov 17];17:49. https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S487849
14. Clay-Williams R, Ludlow K, Testa L, Li Z, Braithwaite J. Medical leadership, a systematic narrative review: do hospitals and healthcare organizations perform better when led by doctors? BMJ Open [Internet]. 2017 Sep 1 [cited 2025 Nov 17];7(9):e014474. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJOPEN-2016-014474
15. Restivo V, Minutolo G, Battaglini A, Carli A, Capraro M, Gaeta M, et al. Leadership Effectiveness in Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Before–After Studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022 Sep 1 [cited 2025 Nov 17];19(17):10995. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH191710995/S1
16. Liliana M, Lira P, Santillan DN, Código G, Martin A, Otiniano C, et al. Tesis para optar el Título Profesional de Licenciado en Administración. 2014.
17. Cantor A. Impacto del liderazgo en el clima laboral y el rendimiento de los empleados. Universidad Libre.
18. Passas I. Bibliometric Analysis: The Main Steps. Encyclopedia 2024, Vol 4, Pages 1014-1025 [Internet]. 2024 Jun 20 [cited 2025 Sep 12];4(2):1014–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ENCYCLOPEDIA4020065
19. Donthu N, Kumar S, Mukherjee D, Pandey N, Lim WM. How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. J Bus Res [Internet]. 2021 Sep 1 [cited 2025 Nov 15];133:285–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSRES.2021.04.070
20. Van Eck NJ, Waltman L. Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics [Internet]. 2010 Dec 31 [cited 2025 Sep 4];84(2):523–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11192-009-0146-3/FIGURES/7
21. Kachbou Y, Alaoui M, Aichouch I, Azzaoui K, Touzani R, Hammouti B. Bibliometric analysis of global research trends on UIZ using Scopus database and VOS viewer from 1989–2024. jmaterenvironsci.com [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Nov 15];10(1):2299140. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2299140
22. Snyder H. Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. J Bus Res [Internet]. 2019 Nov 1 [cited 2025 Nov 13];104:333–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSRES.2019.07.039
23. Agarwal S, Charlesworth M, Elrakhawy M. How to write a narrative review. Anaesthesia [Internet]. 2023 Sep 1 [cited 2025 Nov 15];78(9):1162–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/ANAE.16016
24. Sukhera J. Narrative Reviews: Flexible, Rigorous, and Practical. J Grad Med Educ [Internet]. 2022 Aug 1 [cited 2025 Nov 15];14(4):414. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-22-00480.1
25. Kerse G, Çakıcı AB, Deniz V. Health-oriented leadership’s impact on the well-being of healthcare workers: Assessment with a mediated model. Upravlenets. 2022 Nov 3;13(5):49–66. https://doi.org/10.29141/2218-5003-2022-13-5-4
26. Mai DH, Newton H, Farrell PR, Mullan P, Kapoor R. Assessment of Clinical Leadership Training Needs in Senior Pediatric Residents. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2021 Jan;8:238212052098859. https://doi.org/10.1177/2382120520988593
27. Bosak J, Kilroy S, Chênevert D, C Flood P. Examining the role of transformational leadership and mission valence on burnout among hospital staff. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness. 2021;8(2):208–27. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-08-2020-0151/FULL/PDF
28. Alqahtani AM, Nahar S, Almosa K, Almusa AA, Al-Shahrani BF, Asiri AA, et al. 0 2 Leadership styles and job satisfaction among healthcare providers in primary health care centers. World Family Medicine. 2021;19(3):102–12. https://doi.org/10.5742/MEWFM.2021.94013
29. Durowade KA, Kadiri IB, Durowade SB, Sanni TA, Ojuolape MA, Omokanye LO. Leadership Styles versus Health Workers’ Job Satisfaction: Relationships, Correlates and Predictors in Tertiary Hospitals in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract. 2020 Dec 1;23(12):1702–10. https://doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_525_18
30. Øygarden O, Olsen E, Mikkelsen A. Changing to improve? Organizational change and change-oriented leadership in hospitals. J Health Organ Manag. 2020 Sep 15;34(6):687–706. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-09-2019-0280
31. Lin YK, Lin BY-J. Coronavirus pandemic derived demands and inclusive leadership on junior doctors’ well-being. Occup Med (Chic Ill) [Internet]. 2024 Sep 20. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae081
32. Erschens R, Seifried-Dübon T, Stuber F, Rieger MA, Zipfel S, Nikendei C, et al. The association of perceived leadership style and subjective well-being of employees in a tertiary hospital in Germany. PLoS One. 2022 Dec 1;17(12 December). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278597
33. Paganin G, De Angelis M, Pische E, Violante FS, Guglielmi D, Pietrantoni L. The Impact of Mental Health Leadership on Teamwork in Healthcare Organizations: A Serial Mediation Study. Sustainability (Switzerland). 2023 May 1;15(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097337
34. Øygarden O, Olsen E, Mikkelsen A. Changing to improve? Organizational change and change-oriented leadership in hospitals. J Health Organ Manag. 2020 Sep 15;34(6):687–706. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-09-2019-0280
35. Lin YK, Lin BY-J. Coronavirus pandemic derived demands and inclusive leadership on junior doctors’ well-being. Occup Med (Chic Ill) [Internet]. 2024 Sep 20; https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae081
36. Bland A, Waal A De, Grzybowski S. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of physician leadership in responding to rural community ecosystem disruptions. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine. 2024;29(2):71–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_27_23
37. Skakon J, Nielsen K, Borg V, Guzman J. Are leaders’ well-being, behaviours and style associated with the effective well-being of their employees? A systematic review of three decades of research. Work Stress. 2010;24(2):107–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2010.495262
38. N Subbu Krishna Sastry. EPRA International Journal of Environmental Economics, Commerce and Educational Management. 2024 Sep; https://doi.org/10.36713/epra0414
39. Cedwyn Fernandes. The impact of transformational and transactional leadership styles on employees’ satisfaction and performance: an empirical test in a multicultural environment [Internet]. 2004.
40. Folakemi O, Anthonia AA, Dayo AI. Transactional Leadership Style and Employee Job Satisfaction among Universities’ Guest Houses in South-West Nigeria. 2016.
41. De Dreu CKW, Beersma B. Conflict in organizations: Beyond effectiveness and performance. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. 2005 Jun;14(2):105–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13594320444000227
42. Castellanos Suárez V. Conflictos interpersonales. tendencias actuales en su manejo y solución. Vol. 3. Perfiles de las Ciencias Sociales; 2015.
43. Alarcon GM. A meta-analysis of burnout with job demands, resources, and attitudes. J Vocat Behav. 2011 Oct;79(2):549–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.03.007
44. Lockwood W. Clinical Supervision: Leadership Styles. 2024 Jul.
45. Batra K, Singh TP, Sharma M, Batra R, Schvaneveldt N. Investigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 among healthcare workers: A meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 1;17(23):1–33. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239096 PMID:33291511
46. Wang H, Chen M, Li X. Moderating Multiple Mediation Model of the Impact of Inclusive Leadership on Employee Innovative Behavior. Front Psychol. 2021 Aug 11;12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666477
47. Bland A, Waal A De, Grzybowski S. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of physician leadership in responding to rural community ecosystem disruptions. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine. 2024;29(2):71–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_27_23
48. Vadi E, Kasemaa A. Healthcare workers’ perceptions of their managers’ leadership behaviour and emotional intelligence: a quantitative study in an Estonian hospital. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. 2023;72(3):239–49. https://doi.org/10.3176/proc.2023.3.06
49. Erschens R, Seifried-Dübon T, Stuber F, Rieger MA, Zipfel S, Nikendei C, et al. The association of perceived leadership style and subjective well-being of employees in a tertiary hospital in Germany. PLoS One. 2022 Dec 1;17(12 December). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278597
50. Stuber F, Seifried-Dübon T, Rieger MA, Zipfel S, Gündel H, Junne F. Investigating the Role of Stress-Preventive Leadership in the Workplace Hospital: The Cross-Sectional Determination of Relational Quality by Transformational Leadership. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Sep 3;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00622
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Salud, Trabajo y Sostenibilidad (Consejo Colombiano de Seguridad)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
