Effects of Leader–Member Exchange Quality on the Internalization of Emotional Regulation

Background: Research has indicated that the internalization of emotion regulation is an important process for promoting positive work outcomes among employees. In Taiwan nursing contexts, however, the collectivist culture and high power distance within the Chinese community, along with the hierarchical and highly structured nature of nursing work, are not conducive to the internalization of emotional regulation. This study was focused on exploring mechanisms or policies within hospitals that can improve the internalization of emotional regulation among nursing staff. This study examined how the quality of leader–member exchange (LMX) influences the internalization of emotional regulation and explored the moderating role of mentorship in this relationship. Methods: A two-stage questionnaire survey was conducted to limit common method bias. Female nurses in a medical center in central Taiwan participated. The recruitment period for this study started in April 2020 and ended in June 2020. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed at each stage, and 252 matched pairs of responses were retrieved (valid response rate = 84%). The proposed hypotheses were verified using hierarchical regression conducted with SPSS Version 25.0. Results: The findings suggest that LMX quality positively influences the internalization of emotional regulation (β = 0.26, p < 0.01). Additionally, the results confirm that mentoring functions strengthen this positive relationship (β = 0.18, p < 0.01), highlighting their role as a moderating factor. Conclusions: This study confirmed that establishing high-quality LMX relationships can enhance the internalization of emotional regulation among female nursing staff. In addition, mentors can provide effective guidance and feedback, thereby improving the quality of LMX and their internalization of emotional regulation. Strengthening LMX relationships and establishing a comprehensive mentoring system are important for hospitals.