The impact of paternalistic leadership on employees’ proenvironmental behavior

We applied social learning theory in investigating the predictive effect of paternalistic leadership on employees’ proenvironmental behavior (EPEB), with green self-efficacy as a mediator of this link and green psychological atmosphere as a moderator of the relationship between green self-efficacy and EPEB. The results of an empirical study with 310 employees of manufacturing enterprises in China indicated that authoritarian leadership negatively predicted EPEB, with green self-efficacy acting as a mediator. Benevolent leadership positively predicted EPEB, and green self-efficacy mediated this relationship. Furthermore, green psychological atmosphere moderated the relationship between green self-efficacy and EPEB. The research findings enrich theoretical understanding of paternalistic leadership and EPEB, and also provide references for organizations to effectively stimulate EPEB.