The Impact of Department Chair Leadership Identity on Faculty Thriving in Comprehensive University Reform: The Cross-Level Moderating Role of Work Arrangement Flexibility

Jinan Gou^1*Yuzhao Shen²

• ¹Beihang University, Beijing, China
• ²Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China

Based on social information processing theory, this study explores the multilevel impact mechanism of department chair leadership identity on faculty thriving in Chinese higher education reform contexts. As universities undergo intensifying reform pressures, department chairs face the challenge of balancing administrative duties with academic mentorship; how they internalize their leadership role—their leadership identity—may critically shape faculty outcomes, yet this internal driver remains underexplored. Using a multi-source, two-stage design, paired data were collected from 60 department chairs and 250 faculty members across 10-14 universities undergoing "Double First-Class" reform. Hierarchical linear modeling results reveal that transformational leadership significantly shapes leadership identity, which in turn exerts a positive cross-level effect on faculty thriving. Psychological empowerment partially mediates this relationship. Furthermore, work arrangement flexibility significantly moderates the leadership identity–psychological empowerment relationship, with stronger positive effects under high-flexibility conditions. This study makes three contributions: (1) shifting leadership research focus from overt behavior to leaders' self-concept as a driver of effectiveness; (2) enriching social information processing theory by demonstrating how internal identity becomes a perceivable cross-level social cue; and (3) providing practical implications for universities to cultivate department chairs' leadership identity and implement flexible work policies that enhance faculty well-being during organizational transformation.