The Effect of Leader-Follower Age Congruence on Leader Humor Behavior and Followers’ Job Performance

Abstract

Abstract: Based on similarity-attraction theory and relational norms theory, this paper investigates the effect of leader-follower age congruence on leader humor behavior and followers’ job performance. Using a multi-wave field survey of 266 followers and their leaders, along with polynomial regression and response surface analysis, the study finds that: (1) the frequency of leader humor behavior is higher in leader-follower age-congruent dyads than in age-incongruent dyads. (2) when leaders and followers are incongruent in age, the frequency of leader humor behavior is higher in the “older leader and younger follower” dyads than in the “younger leader and older follower” dyads. (3) leader-follower age congruence has a positive indirect effect on followers’ job performance via leader humor behavior. This paper reveals the antecedent and consequence of leader humor behavior from the perspective of leader-follower age congruence, providing a new theoretical lens for facilitating leader humor behavior in leader-follower interactions.

Key words: leader humor behavior, leader-follower age congruence, relational demography, job performance, response surface analysis

Jiang Tian, Chen Feiyue, Chen Hang, Zhou Yiling, Wang Lin. The Effect of Leader-Follower Age Congruence on Leader Humor Behavior and Followers’ Job Performance[J]. Management Review, 2026, 38(7): 157-165.

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