Beyond interpersonal bonds: linking leader-member exchange and coworker exchange on flourishing and the mediating role of thriving at work.

INTRODUCTION: Positive psychology research emphasizes the concept of flourishing as one of the primary goals in human life. Supporting academics' professional growth and wellbeing is crucial because it affects their students' educational experiences, the efficiency of their institutions, and the overall state of the national research ecosystem. Drawing on social exchange and self-determination theories, this study examined how two forms of interaction at work, leader-member exchange (LMX) and coworker exchange (CWX), influence flourishing and the mediating role of thriving at work in this relationship. METHODS: The data were collected from 418 academics employed at public and private universities in Turkey. Leader-member exchange and coworker exchange were modeled as the predictors, thriving at work was specified as the mediator, and flourishing was examined as the outcome variable. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed relationships. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling revealed that thriving mediated the relationship between leader-member exchange and flourishing. Furthermore, coworker exchange demonstrated a direct correlation with flourishing, whereas leader-member exchange was associated with flourishing only indirectly through thriving, indicating that the quality of interactions with leaders and colleagues corresponded to distinct levels of wellbeing among academics. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the distinct roles of leader and coworker exchanges in terms of shaping flourishing among academics. The study offers beneficial implications for promoting psychological functioning at research-oriented institutions while also advancing theoretical knowledge of exchange-based wellbeing.