Transformational leadership and turnover intention in sport for development and peace (SDP): The serial mediation effect of decent work and meaningful work.

Abstract

Purpose/Rationale Building on the psychology of working theory (PWT), this study examined how transformational leadership influences turnover intention among sport for development and peace (SDP) employees through the mediating roles of decent work and meaningful work perceptions. Research Methods Data were collected from 106 SDP employees worldwide through an online survey. A serial mediation model was examined using regression analysis with bootstrapping. Findings Transformational leadership was negatively associated with turnover intention among SDP employees. Both decent work and meaningful work perceptions independently mediated this relationship. Additionally, a significant serial mediation effect was identified where transformational leadership enhanced perceptions of decent work, which in turn fostered meaningful work experiences, and ultimately reduced turnover intention. Implications This study provides critical insights into how transformational leadership contributes to employee retention in SDP organizations by shaping decent and meaningful work perceptions. It offers theoretical advancements in the application of PWT in the sport sector and provides actionable strategies for SDP agencies to enhance workforce retention by leveraging transformational leadership practices.