The mediating effect of nepotism on subjective well-being and employee loyalty: A case study of a private airline company

Secil Ulufer Kansoy, Kirklareli UniversityFollow

Abstract

This study examines the potential mediating effect of nepotism in the relationship between subjective well-being and employee loyalty among aviation employees of a private airline company in Türkiye. Drawing on data from 289 valid surveys completed by cabin crew members of a private airline company in Istanbul, Türkiye, the analysis focuses on how nepotism shapes the relationship between these key organizational constructs. The subjective well-being, employee loyalty, and nepotism scales were utilized to measure relevant constructs, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS 22 and the bootstrapping technique. The findings reveal that subjective well-being positively and significantly influences employee loyalty, both directly and indirectly, through perceptions of nepotism. Specifically, increased levels of subjective well-being reduce perceptions of nepotism, which in turn enhances employee loyalty. This study provides new insights into the role of nepotism in the aviation sector, emphasizing the need for fair and meritocratic workplace practices to foster employee well-being and loyalty. The findings contribute to the literature by addressing the complex interplay between subjective well-being, nepotism, and employee loyalty, offering practical implications for human resource management and organizational strategies.

Keywords

workplace fairness, aviation employees, familial favoritism, organizational justice, cabin crew, trust in management

Chinese Abstract

裙带关系在主观幸福感与员工忠诚度之间的中介作用－以民营航空公司为例

本研究探讨了裙带关系在土耳其一家私人航空公司航空员工的主观幸福感和员工忠诚度关系中的潜在中介作用。该分析基于土耳其伊斯坦堡一家私人航空公司机组人员所完成的289 份有效的调查数据，重点分析了裙带关系如何影响这些主要组织构念之间的关系。研究采用主观幸福感、员工忠诚度和裙带关系量表测量相关组织构念，并使用 SPSS 22 和靴带法（Bootstrapping）进行数据分析。研究结果表明，主观幸福感会透过裙带关系感知直接或间接地对员工忠诚度产生积极且显著的影响。具体来说，主观幸福感的提升会减少裙带关系的感知，进而提高员工忠诚度。这项研究为裙带关系在航空业的角色提供了新的见解，强调需要公平和精英化的工作规范，以促进员工的福祉和忠诚度。研究结果探讨了主观幸福感、裙带关系和员工忠诚度之间的复杂交互作用，为文献做出了贡献，为人力资源管理和组织策略提供了实践的意义。

工作场所公平、航空员工、家庭偏袒、组织正义、机组人员、对管理阶层的信任

ORCID Identifiers

Secil Ulufer Kansoy: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5522-324X

DOI

10.5038/2640-6489.10.1.1343

Recommended Citation

Ulufer Kansoy, S. (2025). The mediating effect of nepotism on subjective well-being and employee loyalty: A case study of a private airline company. Journal of Global Business Insights, 10(1), 54-66. https://www.doi.org/10.5038/2640-6489.10.1.1343