Liderazgo de Servicio en el Sector Público Chileno: Validación con Perspectiva de Género

Dinka Villarroel-Núñez; Hedy Acosta-Antognoni; Marisa Salanova Soria; César Villacura-Herrera

doi:10.69733/clad.ryd.n94.a520

Servant Leadership in the Chilean Public Sector: Validation with a Gender Perspective

Liderazgo de Servicio en el Sector Público Chileno: Validación con Perspectiva de Género

Liderança de Serviço no Setor Público Chileno: Validação com Perspectiva de Gênero

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69733/clad.ryd.n94.a520

Published

2026-03-11

Dinka Villarroel-Núñez

Jaume I University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0722-1215

Hedy Acosta-Antognoni

University of Talca

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8412-4128

Marisa Salanova Soria

Jaume I University

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7873-7078

César Villacura-Herrera

University of Groningen

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6665-3774

PDF (Spanish)

Abstract (en)

This study validates the Servant Leadership Survey (SLS) by van Dierendonck and Nuijten (2011) in the Chilean public administration with a gender perspective. A total of 1.229 individuals from 43 institutions participated. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the eight-factor model, showing better fit and reliability indices for employees (ω = 0,956) than for supervisors (ω = 0,747). The “accountability” factor presented low factor loadings in both groups. Measurement invariance across gender was confirmed at the configural, metric, and scalar levels, but not at the residual level. Significant gender differences were found among employees in the factors of “standing back,” “humility,” and “accountability.” Concurrent validity was confirmed with the construct of transformational leadership, and discriminant validity with public service motivation. The findings support the applicability of the SLS in the Chilean public sector as a relational and prosocial model, while also highlighting the need for adjustments when used as a self-assessment tool for supervisors.

Keywords (EN): Servant leadership, public sector, gender perspective, validation, Chile

Abstract (es)

Este estudio valida la escala Servant Leadership Survey (SLS) de van Dierendonck y Nuijten (2011) en la administración pública chilena con perspectiva de género. Participaron 1.229 personas de 43 instituciones. El análisis factorial confirmatorio confirmó los ocho factores del modelo, con mejores índices de ajuste y fiabilidad para personas trabajadoras (ω = 0,956) que para personas supervisoras (ω = 0,747). El factor “responsabilizar” presentó cargas factoriales bajas en ambos grupos. Se comprobó la invarianza factorial por género en los niveles configural, métrico y escalar, sin alcanzarse en el nivel residual. Se hallaron diferencias significativas por género entre las personas trabajadoras en los factores “ceder méritos”, “humildad” y “responsabilizar”. La validez concurrente se evidenció con el constructo liderazgo transformacional, y la validez discriminante con el constructo motivación de servicio público. Los hallazgos respaldan la aplicabilidad de la escala SLS en el sector público chileno como modelo relacional y prosocial, aunque advierten la necesidad de ajustes en su uso como herramienta de autoevaluación de las personas supervisoras.

Keywords (ES): Liderazgo de servicio, sector público, perspectiva de género, validación de escala, Chile

Abstract (pt_BR)

Este estudo valida a Servant Leadership Survey (SLS) de van Dierendonck e Nuijten (2011) na administração pública chilena com perspectiva de gênero. Participaram 1.229 pessoas de 43 instituições. A análise fatorial confirmatória confirmou os oito fatores do modelo, com melhores índices de ajuste e confiabilidade para trabalhadores (ω = 0,956) do que para supervisores (ω = 0,747). O fator responsabilização apresentou cargas baixas em ambos os grupos. A invariância fatorial por gênero foi confirmada nos níveis configural, métrico e escalar, mas não no residual. Diferenças significativas por gênero foram encontradas entre trabalhadores nos fatores “atribuir méritos”, “humildade” e “responsabilização”. A validade concorrente foi evidenciada por correlações significativas com a liderança transformacional, e a validade discriminante por correlações baixas com a motivação para o serviço público. Os achados apoiam a aplicabilidade da SLS no setor público chileno como modelo relacional e pró-social, embora indiquem a necessidade de ajustes em seu uso como ferramenta de autoavaliação em supervisores.

Keywords (PT): Liderança servidora, setor público, perspectiva de gênero, validação de escala, Chile

Dinka Villarroel-Núñez, Jaume I University

Work psychologist and MBA, candidate for a Ph.D. in Public Policies and Social Welfare, with over 20 years of experience combining public management, research, teaching, and consulting. In Chile, she has held positions in the Civil Service, participating in the design and implementation of selection and development processes for Senior Public Officials, as well as initiatives to strengthen personnel management in the public sector. She has also worked on psychosocial assessment projects and organizational interventions. Currently, she conducts research and teaches at the University Jaume I (Spain).

Hedy Acosta-Antognoni, University of Talca

Assistant professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Talca. She directs the Master's in Social Psychology and the emerging research team RTOP (Research Team on Organizational Psychology). Her areas of interest and research lines focus on occupational health psychology, positive psychological interventions, and research methodologies in organizational contexts.

Marisa Salanova Soria, Jaume I University

Professor of Social Psychology at the University Jaume I and PhD in Psychology from the University of Valencia. She is a renowned international researcher in positive organizational psychology, workplace well-being, and healthy organizations. She has developed theoretical models, such as the HERO (Healthy & Resilient Organizations) model, to study workplace well-being. Since 1991, she has led the WANT research team – Psychosocial Prevention and Healthy Organizations – and has published over 300 scientific articles on well-being and psychosocial health in organizations.

César Villacura-Herrera, University of Groningen

Psychologist and doctoral candidate, works in areas such as suicide behavior assessment, subclinical psychosis, cognitive psychology, emotional regulation in clinical and organizational contexts, psychometric analysis, and research synthesis methods. Currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Heymans Institute for Psychological Research at the University of Groningen, with a focus on experimental research on perception and cognition.

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Villarroel-Núñez, D., Acosta-Antognoni, H., Salanova Soria, M., & Villacura-Herrera, C. (2026). Servant Leadership in the Chilean Public Sector: Validation with a Gender Perspective. Revista Del CLAD Reforma Y Democracia, 94, 192-224. https://doi.org/10.69733/clad.ryd.n94.a520

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