Leadership and worker well-being – cross-sectional study in companies and institutions

Well-being is a growing concern in the global health debate, with leadership recognized as a key element that can enhance well-being or contribute to stress. This study aimed to assess the relationship between leadership competencies and supervision satisfaction, their impact on workers’ well-being and stress, and the differences across business activity areas. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 444 workers from Portuguese companies and institutions, contacted through convenience sampling. Data were collected from November 2023 to March 2025 through a questionnaire comprising validated scales: SFSSQ (Supervision Satisfaction), PSS-10 (Perceived Stress), JAWS (Job Well-being), and QCL (Leadership Competencies). Leadership competencies and satisfaction with supervision were significantly correlated with well-being (ρ = 0.514, p < 0.001; ρ = 0.577, p < 0.001) and stress (ρ = −0.336, p < 0.001; ρ = -0.374, p < 0.001). The Coordinator role was most strongly associated with well-being, while the Facilitator role was associated with lower stress. Statistically significant differences were identified across professional areas for all variables, except stress. The results suggest that all leadership competencies are valued, with a preference for organization, participation, innovation, and clear structure. Differences between areas highlight the need to study the more vulnerable areas, such as healthcare, and underscore the importance of aligning leadership styles with organizational culture. This study reinforces the importance of leadership in promoting well-being and reducing stress in the workplace, highlighting the need to invest in leadership training that aligns competencies with team needs and the specific contexts of each organization. • Leadership skills are linked to workers' well-being across sectors. • Supervision satisfaction strongly relates to well-being and stress. • Healthcare workers show lower well-being and higher stress levels. • Findings support targeted leadership training to promote worker well-being.