The impact of leadership styles and organizational cultures on employee job satisfaction in psychiatric residential treatment centers for children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of leadership styles and organizational cultures on job satisfaction of employees who work in residential treatment centers (RTC) for children. A quantitative, descriptive research design was used to assess the responses of 250 men and women employed as mental health workers (direct care professionals) in a psychiatric residential treatment facility located in the southeast United States. Participants were asked to complete a demographic survey and two questionnaires to assess leadership style as perceived by their employees. Responses were then used to determine the relationship between characteristics that form transactional and transformational leadership, and transactional and transformational cultures, on employee satisfaction in psychiatric residential treatment centers. Results indicated that transformational and transactional styles of leadership and types of culture interact with each other to affect job satisfaction. Results presented herein also support the existence of harmonious and discordant relationships and their effects on job satisfaction within psychiatric residential treatment centers for children. This study may be useful in stressing that embodying a supportive culture will go a long way to minimize burnout and retain highly qualified childcare workers. Additionally, other healthcare organizations can draw inferences from the data collected to consider changes that could ensure that critical care required by patients in healthcare settings is not unnecessarily compromised. Furthermore, the reduction in costs associated with employee turnover is an important benefit of understanding issues that impact employee satisfaction.