Impact of emotional contagion on organizational communication among employees in NGOs working toward sustainable development
Keywords:
communication, psychology, leadership, volunteers, intrinsic motivation, nonprofit organization, social work
Abstract
The study provides important empirical evidence of the role of emo- tional contagion (a socio-psychological mechanism by which mental states are transmitted to other people) to motivate the staff of social non-profit organizations with limited financial resources. The research goal was to identify the mechanisms through which emotional contagion in management communications affects the motivation of employees at social non-profits in the context of achieving sustainable development principles. The study adopted a mixed-methods design. Validated quantitative methods were applied to assess emotional contagion, intrinsic motivation, value fit, and leadership styles among 267 employees from 18 non-profits. Following this, 15 indepth interviews with managers and six focus groups with employees were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the results. Statistical analysis was conducted with nonparametric methods: Spearman’s correlation, the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal- Wallis tests, and mediation and moderation analysis with bootstrapping. The qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Emotional contagion was concluded to be an effective mechanism for motivating the staff of social non-profit organizations, acting through value fit and enhanced by transformational leadership. The results provide practical guidelines for the development of HR strategies for the nonprofit sector, particularly for organizations focused on social work (e.g., involving volunteer work). These strategies can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals by increasing employee motivation and the quality of social services.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Afanasyev, V. V., Sergeeva, V. P., Ukolova, L. I., & Milkevich, O. A. (2017). “Methodology of studying social and cultural partnership in the prevention of children’s ill-being”. Espacios, 38 (55), 13.
Akhmetshin, E., Abdullayev, I., Kozachek, A., Savinkova, O., & Shichiyakh, R. (2025). “Competency-based model for the development of teachers’ personal and professional qualities”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 15 (1), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14031118
Avolio, B. J., & Bass, B. M. (2004). Multifactor leadership questionnaire (TM). Menlo Park: Mind Garden, Inc., pp. 1–10.
Aziyev, A., Shalgynbayeva, K., Aitysheva, A., & Alpyssov, A. (2024). “Impact of psychological training on the development of professionally important qualities of an educational psychologist”. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 13 (1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.13187/ ejced.2024.1.5
Barsade, S. G. (2002). “The ripple effect: Emotional contagion and its influence on group behavior”. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47 (4), 644–675.
Barsade, S. G., Coutifaris, C. G., & Pillemer, J. (2018). “Emotional contagion in organizational life”. Research in Organizational Behavior, 38, 137–151.
Begishev, I., Abdullayev, I., Chernov, D., Blagodatskaya, A., Sychanina, S., & Kochetkov, E. (2024). “Evaluation of the effectiveness of digitalization projects in the field of receiving citizens’ appeals, taking into account the specifics of the region”. Cadernos Educacao Tecnologia e Sociedade, 17 (2), 757–780. http://dx.doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v17.n2.757-780
Cable, D. M., & DeRue, D. S. (2002). “The convergent and discriminant validity of subjective fit perceptions”. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87 (5), 875–884.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). “The ‘what’ and ‘why’ of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior”. Psychological Inquiry, 11 (4), 227–268.
Denisova, D., Strandstrem, E., Akhmetshin, E., & Nikolenko, D. (2023). “Efficiency of various forms of simulation training in the training of medical professionals”. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 12 (3), 788-796. https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2023.3.788
Donika, A., Goverdovskaya, E., Kirgueva, F., Ekhaeva, R., & Dzidzoeva, S. (2024). “Mitigating professional burnout: Socio-psychological support for human-centered professions”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 15 (1), 292-303. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14031909
Fattakhov, R. V., & Khachatryan, A. A. (2024). “Fundamental trends in the allocation and use of economic resources”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice. 20 (6), 172–179. https:// doi.org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-6-172-179
Gadzaova, L., Goverdovskaya, E., Alisultanova, E., Moiseenko, N., & Peykarova, N. (2023). “Development of practical measures to improve the qualifications of university teachers in a changing educational environment”. Revista on Line de Política e Gestão Educacional, 27 (00), e023058. https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v27i00.18528
Gaponenko, V. F., & Burtseva, E. V. (2024). “Features of accounting for financial assets in budgetary institutions”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20 (6), 152–158. https://doi. org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-6-152-158
Gasanov, A. (2024). “Industrial heritage in Russia and abroad: Traditions and innovations of the interdisciplinary direction”. Istoricheskiy zhurnal: nauchnyye issledovaniya, 1, 48–62. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0609.2024.1.69571
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., McKee, A., & Patterson, S. (2002). Primal leadership: Realizing the power of emotional intelligence. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Grant, A. M., & Shandell, M. S. (2022). “Social motivation at work: The organizational psychology of effort for, against, and with others”. Annual Review of Psychology, 73 (1), 301– 326.
Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. L. (1994). Emotional contagion. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: Guilford Publications.
Kharkovskaya, E., Posokhova, N., & Kushchenko, E. (2023). “Influence of creative technologies on the development of educational leisure activities for youth in the contemporary sociocultural environment”. Revista Conrado, 19 (95), 536–541
Kochesokov, I. G. (2022). “Lobbying as a way of manifesting public goals: The experience of foreign countries”. Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 1 (1), 18–24. https://doi. org/10.33693/2782-7372-2022-1-1-18-24
Krainova, N., Gaag, I., Zaporozhets, S., Dyatlov, G., & Galimov, E. (2024). “Individual criminal behavior in the context of resocialization of the individual”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 14 (3), 716–727. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11155513
Kryucheva, Y., & Tolstoukhova, I. (2024). “The importance of motivation in students for successful professional education”. Revista on Line de Política e Gestão Educacional, 28 (00), e023031. https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v28i00.19886
Letova, N. V. (2023a). “Problems of social security and protection of families with children of mobilized citizens”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 16 (2), 138–145. https://doi. org/10.33693/2072-3164-2023-16-2-138-145
Letova, N. V. (2023b). “The right of the child to payments of a social type: Features and problems enforcement.” Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 1 (1), 25–31. https://doi.org/10.33693/2782-7372-2022-1-1-25-31
Li, Z. C., Ji, Y. G., Tao, W., & Chen, Z. F. (2022). “Engaging your feelings: Emotion contagion and public engagement on nonprofit organizations’ Facebook sites”. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 51 (3), 621–645.
Markheim, M. V., & Lukyanova, I. Yu. (2023). “Social subjects of legal relations: Constitutional refrain”. Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 2 (2), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.33693/2782-7372-2023-2-2-10-15
Miao, Q., Huang, J., & Yin, H. (2024). “Emotions matter: Understanding the relationship between drivers of volunteering and participation”. Journal of Social Service Research, 50 (3), 245–262.
Muchtadin, M., & Sundary, Z. E. (2023). “The role of intrinsic motivation on altruism, civic virtue, affective commitment and work engagement”. Research of Economics and Business, 1 (2), 86–94.
Petrova, A. V. (2024). “Sustainable corporate governance of American social enterprises under the pressure of new trends”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20 (1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-1-76-83
Renard, M., & Snelgar, R. (2017). “Positive consequences of intrinsically rewarding work: A model to motivate, engage and retain non-profit employees”. Southern African Business Review, 21 (1), 177–197.
Renard, M., & Snelgar, R. J. (2018). “Can non-profit employees’ internal desires to work be quantified? Validating the intrinsic work motivation scale”. South African Journal of Psychology, 48 (1), 48–60.
Sergeeva, S., Gladilina, I., Bulochnikova, N., Shichkin, I., Kochetkov, E., & Filonova, A. (2023). “Impact of green fintech solutions on achieving ESG principles”. Revista Gestao & Tecnologia-Journal of Management and Technology, 23 (1), 335–345.
Shebzukhova, L., Okhtov, A., Sokolskaya, M., & Strandstrem, E. (2023). “Impact of simulation educationon the development of professional skills of students: Future medical and social workers”. Revista on Line de Política e Gestão Educacional, 27 (00), e023027. https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v27i00.18193
Shichkin, I., Ruziev, Z., Jumaniyazova, M., Abdullaeva, M., & Abdullayev, I. (2024). Development of higher education in the context of digitalization: Developing an effective socio-economic integration model. Revista Conrado, 20 (S1), 142–147.
Silva, A. J., Burgette, A. R., & Costa, J. F. D. (2024). “Toward a sustainable world: Affective factors explain how emotional salary influences different performance indicators”. Sustainability, 16 (5), 2198. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su16052198
Smolin, A. G., & Palchikova, M. V. (2024). “Peculiarities of interaction of local self-government bodies in social networks: Changes through the prism of the society’s viewpoint”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17 (3), 166–171. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-3-166-171
Suiunalieva, B., Muratalieva, N., Cholponkulova, N., & Konurbayev, T. (2024). “Professional perception of social work specialists in the provision of social and psychological services to vulnerable populations”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 14 (3), 572–581. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11149358
Ullah, H., & Bishop, P. (2020). “What inspires career professionals in Ontario’s Non-Profit Employment Agencies to remain intrinsically motivated?” Canadian Journal of Career Development, 19 (1), 27–38.
United Nations (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015. (A/RES/70/1). Available: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/ A_RES_70_1_E.pdf?ysclid=mf1msfemao926258482
Vassilchenko, N. V. (2024). “Social partnership in education as a subject of legal relationship”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17 (7), 72–78. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-7-072-078
Wang, R. (2021). “Organizational commitment in the nonprofit sector and the underlying impact of stakeholders and organizational support”. Voluntas, 32 (4), 912–923.
Word, J., & Carpenter, H. L. (2013). “The new public service? Applying the public service motivation model to nonprofit employees”. Public Personnel Management, 42 (3), 315–336.
Yang, G. (2025). “Analysis of the contribution of human capital to enterprise value-taking the CFO as an example”. RISUS-Journal on Innovation and Sustainability, 16 (1), 82–91. https://doi.org/10.23925/2179-3565.2025v16i1p82-91
Zentsova, N. I. (2024). “Biofeedback therapy in the prevention of stress and emotional burnout of top managers”. Psikhologiya i Psikhotekhnika, 4, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0722.2024.4.44174.
Zhuzeyev, S., Zhailauova, Z., Shichkin, I., Akimova, O., Shadskaja, I., & Filonova, A. (2024). “Influence of academic relations between university teachers and students on educational process efficiency”. Revista Conrado, 20 (96), 640–647.
Akhmetshin, E., Abdullayev, I., Kozachek, A., Savinkova, O., & Shichiyakh, R. (2025). “Competency-based model for the development of teachers’ personal and professional qualities”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 15 (1), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14031118
Avolio, B. J., & Bass, B. M. (2004). Multifactor leadership questionnaire (TM). Menlo Park: Mind Garden, Inc., pp. 1–10.
Aziyev, A., Shalgynbayeva, K., Aitysheva, A., & Alpyssov, A. (2024). “Impact of psychological training on the development of professionally important qualities of an educational psychologist”. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 13 (1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.13187/ ejced.2024.1.5
Barsade, S. G. (2002). “The ripple effect: Emotional contagion and its influence on group behavior”. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47 (4), 644–675.
Barsade, S. G., Coutifaris, C. G., & Pillemer, J. (2018). “Emotional contagion in organizational life”. Research in Organizational Behavior, 38, 137–151.
Begishev, I., Abdullayev, I., Chernov, D., Blagodatskaya, A., Sychanina, S., & Kochetkov, E. (2024). “Evaluation of the effectiveness of digitalization projects in the field of receiving citizens’ appeals, taking into account the specifics of the region”. Cadernos Educacao Tecnologia e Sociedade, 17 (2), 757–780. http://dx.doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v17.n2.757-780
Cable, D. M., & DeRue, D. S. (2002). “The convergent and discriminant validity of subjective fit perceptions”. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87 (5), 875–884.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). “The ‘what’ and ‘why’ of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior”. Psychological Inquiry, 11 (4), 227–268.
Denisova, D., Strandstrem, E., Akhmetshin, E., & Nikolenko, D. (2023). “Efficiency of various forms of simulation training in the training of medical professionals”. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 12 (3), 788-796. https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2023.3.788
Donika, A., Goverdovskaya, E., Kirgueva, F., Ekhaeva, R., & Dzidzoeva, S. (2024). “Mitigating professional burnout: Socio-psychological support for human-centered professions”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 15 (1), 292-303. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14031909
Fattakhov, R. V., & Khachatryan, A. A. (2024). “Fundamental trends in the allocation and use of economic resources”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice. 20 (6), 172–179. https:// doi.org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-6-172-179
Gadzaova, L., Goverdovskaya, E., Alisultanova, E., Moiseenko, N., & Peykarova, N. (2023). “Development of practical measures to improve the qualifications of university teachers in a changing educational environment”. Revista on Line de Política e Gestão Educacional, 27 (00), e023058. https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v27i00.18528
Gaponenko, V. F., & Burtseva, E. V. (2024). “Features of accounting for financial assets in budgetary institutions”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20 (6), 152–158. https://doi. org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-6-152-158
Gasanov, A. (2024). “Industrial heritage in Russia and abroad: Traditions and innovations of the interdisciplinary direction”. Istoricheskiy zhurnal: nauchnyye issledovaniya, 1, 48–62. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0609.2024.1.69571
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., McKee, A., & Patterson, S. (2002). Primal leadership: Realizing the power of emotional intelligence. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Grant, A. M., & Shandell, M. S. (2022). “Social motivation at work: The organizational psychology of effort for, against, and with others”. Annual Review of Psychology, 73 (1), 301– 326.
Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. L. (1994). Emotional contagion. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: Guilford Publications.
Kharkovskaya, E., Posokhova, N., & Kushchenko, E. (2023). “Influence of creative technologies on the development of educational leisure activities for youth in the contemporary sociocultural environment”. Revista Conrado, 19 (95), 536–541
Kochesokov, I. G. (2022). “Lobbying as a way of manifesting public goals: The experience of foreign countries”. Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 1 (1), 18–24. https://doi. org/10.33693/2782-7372-2022-1-1-18-24
Krainova, N., Gaag, I., Zaporozhets, S., Dyatlov, G., & Galimov, E. (2024). “Individual criminal behavior in the context of resocialization of the individual”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 14 (3), 716–727. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11155513
Kryucheva, Y., & Tolstoukhova, I. (2024). “The importance of motivation in students for successful professional education”. Revista on Line de Política e Gestão Educacional, 28 (00), e023031. https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v28i00.19886
Letova, N. V. (2023a). “Problems of social security and protection of families with children of mobilized citizens”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 16 (2), 138–145. https://doi. org/10.33693/2072-3164-2023-16-2-138-145
Letova, N. V. (2023b). “The right of the child to payments of a social type: Features and problems enforcement.” Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 1 (1), 25–31. https://doi.org/10.33693/2782-7372-2022-1-1-25-31
Li, Z. C., Ji, Y. G., Tao, W., & Chen, Z. F. (2022). “Engaging your feelings: Emotion contagion and public engagement on nonprofit organizations’ Facebook sites”. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 51 (3), 621–645.
Markheim, M. V., & Lukyanova, I. Yu. (2023). “Social subjects of legal relations: Constitutional refrain”. Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 2 (2), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.33693/2782-7372-2023-2-2-10-15
Miao, Q., Huang, J., & Yin, H. (2024). “Emotions matter: Understanding the relationship between drivers of volunteering and participation”. Journal of Social Service Research, 50 (3), 245–262.
Muchtadin, M., & Sundary, Z. E. (2023). “The role of intrinsic motivation on altruism, civic virtue, affective commitment and work engagement”. Research of Economics and Business, 1 (2), 86–94.
Petrova, A. V. (2024). “Sustainable corporate governance of American social enterprises under the pressure of new trends”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20 (1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-1-76-83
Renard, M., & Snelgar, R. (2017). “Positive consequences of intrinsically rewarding work: A model to motivate, engage and retain non-profit employees”. Southern African Business Review, 21 (1), 177–197.
Renard, M., & Snelgar, R. J. (2018). “Can non-profit employees’ internal desires to work be quantified? Validating the intrinsic work motivation scale”. South African Journal of Psychology, 48 (1), 48–60.
Sergeeva, S., Gladilina, I., Bulochnikova, N., Shichkin, I., Kochetkov, E., & Filonova, A. (2023). “Impact of green fintech solutions on achieving ESG principles”. Revista Gestao & Tecnologia-Journal of Management and Technology, 23 (1), 335–345.
Shebzukhova, L., Okhtov, A., Sokolskaya, M., & Strandstrem, E. (2023). “Impact of simulation educationon the development of professional skills of students: Future medical and social workers”. Revista on Line de Política e Gestão Educacional, 27 (00), e023027. https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v27i00.18193
Shichkin, I., Ruziev, Z., Jumaniyazova, M., Abdullaeva, M., & Abdullayev, I. (2024). Development of higher education in the context of digitalization: Developing an effective socio-economic integration model. Revista Conrado, 20 (S1), 142–147.
Silva, A. J., Burgette, A. R., & Costa, J. F. D. (2024). “Toward a sustainable world: Affective factors explain how emotional salary influences different performance indicators”. Sustainability, 16 (5), 2198. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su16052198
Smolin, A. G., & Palchikova, M. V. (2024). “Peculiarities of interaction of local self-government bodies in social networks: Changes through the prism of the society’s viewpoint”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17 (3), 166–171. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-3-166-171
Suiunalieva, B., Muratalieva, N., Cholponkulova, N., & Konurbayev, T. (2024). “Professional perception of social work specialists in the provision of social and psychological services to vulnerable populations”. Interacción y Perspectiva, 14 (3), 572–581. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11149358
Ullah, H., & Bishop, P. (2020). “What inspires career professionals in Ontario’s Non-Profit Employment Agencies to remain intrinsically motivated?” Canadian Journal of Career Development, 19 (1), 27–38.
United Nations (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015. (A/RES/70/1). Available: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/ A_RES_70_1_E.pdf?ysclid=mf1msfemao926258482
Vassilchenko, N. V. (2024). “Social partnership in education as a subject of legal relationship”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17 (7), 72–78. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-7-072-078
Wang, R. (2021). “Organizational commitment in the nonprofit sector and the underlying impact of stakeholders and organizational support”. Voluntas, 32 (4), 912–923.
Word, J., & Carpenter, H. L. (2013). “The new public service? Applying the public service motivation model to nonprofit employees”. Public Personnel Management, 42 (3), 315–336.
Yang, G. (2025). “Analysis of the contribution of human capital to enterprise value-taking the CFO as an example”. RISUS-Journal on Innovation and Sustainability, 16 (1), 82–91. https://doi.org/10.23925/2179-3565.2025v16i1p82-91
Zentsova, N. I. (2024). “Biofeedback therapy in the prevention of stress and emotional burnout of top managers”. Psikhologiya i Psikhotekhnika, 4, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0722.2024.4.44174.
Zhuzeyev, S., Zhailauova, Z., Shichkin, I., Akimova, O., Shadskaja, I., & Filonova, A. (2024). “Influence of academic relations between university teachers and students on educational process efficiency”. Revista Conrado, 20 (96), 640–647.
Published
2025-11-19
How to Cite
Dronova, S., Tagibova, A., Belova, E., Shafazhinskaya, N., & Shichiyakh, R. (2025). Impact of emotional contagion on organizational communication among employees in NGOs working toward sustainable development. Interacción Y Perspectiva, 16(1), 180-192. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17641864
Section
Artículos de Investigación
