Exploring the Direct Relationship Between Sustainability Leader Ecospirituality and Human Capital Sustainability Leadership Capacity: A Moderated Mediation Study

Authors

Krystal L. Gabel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Gina S. Matkin

Second Advisor

Heather Akin

Third Advisor

Nathan Conner

Date of this Version

Fall 2022

Citation

Gabel, K. L. (2022), Exploring the direct relationship between sustainability leader ecospirituality and human capital sustainability leadership capacity: A moderated mediation study [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nebraska - Lincoln].

Comments

A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Major: Human Sciences (Leadership Studies), Under the Supervision of Professor Gina S. Matkin. Lincoln, Nebraska: December, 2022.

Copyright © 2022 Krystal L. Gabel

Abstract

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if a sustainability leader’s ecospirituality significantly impacts one’s human capital sustainability leadership. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine if one’s psychological capital mediates this relationship and if one’s environmental attitudes moderate the relationships between ecospirituality, human capital sustainability leadership, and psychological capital.

Participants in this study included sustainability leaders in top positions at their organizations in the four highest-ranked countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the United Kingdom) on the 2022 Climate Change Performance Index. These individuals had positions of chief sustainability officer, head of sustainability, or sustainability manager in their respective organizations

The quantitative results indicate that ecospirituality significantly impacts human capital sustainability leadership. However, psychological capital was not found to have a significant mediating impact on this relationship. Additionally, environmental attitudes did not have a significant moderating impact on any of the relationships between ecospirituality, human capital sustainability leadership, and psychological capital.

Additional findings included an influence of gender and age on ecospirituality and a direct relationship between psychological capital and human capital sustainability leadership. The hypotheses test results and the additional findings are discussed along with potential areas for future research.

Advisor: Gina S. Matkin