Transformational Leadership and Affective Commitment Among Local Legislators: Mediating Roles of Social Identity and Social Exchange
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Objective: This study examined the effect of transformational leadership on affective commitment among district- and city-level Regional People’s Representative Council members in East Java, Indonesia, with social identity and social exchange as mediating variables.
Methods and Materials: This quantitative cross-sectional survey included 287 DPRD members from political party organizations in East Java Province, recruited through snowball sampling via WhatsApp distribution. Data were collected using adapted scales measuring affective commitment, transformational leadership, social identity, and social exchange. The measurement and structural models were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings: The model showed acceptable fit and predictive relevance, with SRMR = 0.072 and Q² values of 0.29 for social identity, 0.34 for social exchange, and 0.43 for affective commitment. Transformational leadership directly predicted affective commitment (β = 0.29, p = 0.001, f² = 0.42), social exchange (β = 0.59, p = 0.001, f² = 0.47), and social identity (β = 0.64, p = 0.001, f² = 0.52). Social identity (β = 0.31, p < 0.001, f² = 0.21) and social exchange (β = 0.27, p < 0.001, f² = 0.18) also significantly predicted affective commitment. Indirect effects through social identity (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and social exchange (β = 0.168, p = 0.001) were significant, indicating partial mediation.
Conclusion: Transformational leadership strengthens affective commitment among DPRD members both directly and indirectly through social identity and social exchange.
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