ESP-4445

Published

2026-02-13

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Vol. 11 No. 2 (2026): Publishing

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Krisada Chienwattanasook, Tanasak Wahawisan

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How to Cite

Krisada Chienwattanasook, & Tanasak Wahawisan. (2026). Leadership and work performance in the public sector: Exploring the mediating role of employee engagement through a causal mechanism perspective. Environment and Social Psychology, 11(2), ESP-4445. https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v11i2.4445

Leadership and work performance in the public sector: Exploring the mediating role of employee engagement through a causal mechanism perspective

Krisada Chienwattanasook

Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani,12120, Thailand

Tanasak Wahawisan

Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani,12120, Thailand


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v11i2.4445


Keywords: leadership; employee engagement; work performance; public sector; Thailand

Abstract

This study investigates the causal mechanism by which leadership influences work performance, with a focus on the mediating role of employee engagement, a topic that remains underexplored in bureaucratic contexts. The research objectives are: (1) to examine the causal mechanism through which leadership affects public sector work performance, and (2) to explore the mediating role of employee engagement. Data were collected from 359 civil servants and government employees in tax administration agencies using a five-point rating scale questionnaire with rigorously validated measurement properties. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and a 5,000-sample bootstrap procedure were used to examine both direct and indirect effects as hypothesized. The results show that the structural model explains 61.8% of the variance in employee engagement and 64.4% of the variance in work performance, demonstrating strong explanatory power. Leadership has significant positive direct and indirect effects on work performance through employee engagement, with a high total effect. Employee engagement also has a significant positive impact on work performance. These findings highlight the pivotal role of leadership and participatory mechanisms in enhancing the effectiveness of Thailand’s bureaucratic system. The study contributes to both theoretical advancement and practical implications, providing evidence-based insights for leadership development, human resource strategies, and public sector performance improvement.

 

 

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