Investigation of the Relationship Between Digital Leadership, Psychological Well-Being and Happiness in Sports Organisations

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between perceptions of digital leadership, psychological well-being and happiness levels of employees working in sports organisations and to determine whether these variables differ according to several demographic characteristics (gender, age, marital status, income status). A quantitative research approach was adopted; relational and causal-comparative survey models were used together. The study sample comprised 351 employees of sports organisations who remained after data cleaning, selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Digital Leadership Scale, the Flourishing/Psychological Well-Being Scale and the Short Form of the Happiness at Work Scale. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha reliability analyses, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, simple linear and multiple regression analyses were applied. The findings revealed that participants’ mean scores for digital leadership (M=3.84), psychological well-being (M=3.81) and happiness (M=3.77) were above the theoretical midpoint, and no statistically significant differences were observed according to gender, age, marital status and income status (p>.05). A low-level, positive and significant relationship was found between digital leadership and psychological well-being (r =.119; p<.05), whereas the relationships between digital leadership and happiness, and between psychological well-being and happiness, were not significant. Simple linear regression showed that digital leadership positively predicted psychological well-being (β=.119; p<.05) but did not predict happiness. Multiple regression analysis also indicated that digital leadership and psychological well-being together did not have a significant effect on happiness. In conclusion, the understanding of digital leadership in sports organisations partially supports the psychological well-being of employees but is not directly related to happiness levels.