TITLE:
Research on the Impact of Leadership Styles in Organizational Development on College Students’ Positive Psychological Experiences from the Perspective of Self-Determination Theory
AUTHORS:
Jin Shi
KEYWORDS:
Organizational Development, Leadership Styles, College Students, Positive Psychological Experiences, Self-Determination Theory
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
18,
2025
ABSTRACT: With the acceleration of the popularization process of higher education, university organizational development is confronted with new challenges, such as the diversification of students’ needs and the complexity of management. Against this backdrop, leadership styles, as a key variable in the organizational environment, exert a profound influence on college students’ psychological experiences and behavioral manifestations. Based on Self-Determination Theory, this study explores the impact of different leadership styles in organizational development on college students’ positive psychological experiences. By analyzing the characteristics of transformational, supportive, transactional, and passive leadership styles, and combining case analysis, it theoretically reveals the mechanisms through which each leadership style affects college students’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The findings indicate that transformational and supportive leadership styles significantly enhance college students’ positive psychological experiences, while transactional and passive leadership styles exert inhibitory effects. The study proposes strategies such as optimizing leadership styles and constructing a supportive organizational environment, providing theoretical foundations and practical guidance for university organizational development and the promotion of college students’ mental health.