Nepotismo y meritocracia en el sector público colombiano: implicaciones emocionales y efectos sobre la satisfacción laboral

• Layton-Almeida, Lizbeth N. ^[1] ; Castillo-Mejía, Jhonatan S. ^[1] ; Contreras-Pacheco, Orlando E.
  1. [1] Universidad Industrial de Santander
• Localización: Administración & Desarrollo, ISSN-e 0120-3754, Vol. 56, Nº. 2, 2026
• Idioma: español
• DOI: 10.22431/25005227.1313
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Nepotism and Meritocracy in the Colombian Public Sector: Emotional Implications and Effects on Job Satisfaction
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    Problemática: el nepotismo, entendido como la preferencia hacia familiares o allegados en los procesos de selección y promoción, continúa vulnerando los principios de meritocracia y justicia organizacional en el sector público colombiano, afectando la equidad, la legitimidad institucional y el bienestar emocional de los servidores públicos. Objetivo: este estudio tuvo como propósito examinar las relaciones entre el nepotismo percibido, las emociones —particularmente la felicidad y el nerviosismo— y la satisfacción laboral en empleados del sector público colombiano. Metodología: se realizó una investigación cuantitativa mediante modelamiento de ecuaciones estructurales por mínimos cuadrados parciales, utilizando datos secundarios provenientes de encuestas aplicadas a empleados de organizaciones públicas colombianas. Resultados: el análisis evidenció relaciones entre la percepción de nepotismo, el bienestar emocional y la satisfacción laboral de los empleados públicos. Conclusión: los resultados sugieren que el nepotismo percibido se relaciona con el bienestar emocional y la satisfacción laboral, lo que refuerza la importancia de fortalecer los sistemas de mérito, transparencia y equidad en la gestión del talento humano. Contribución/originalidad: el estudio aporta evidencia empírica sobre la relación conjunta entre nepotismo, emociones y satisfacción laboral en el sector público colombiano.

  • English

    Problem statement: Perceived nepotism, understood as preferential treatment toward relatives or close associates in recruitment, promotion, or recognition processes, may undermine meritocracy, organizational justice, and transparency in the Colombian public sector. Objective: This study examined the relationships between perceived nepotism, emotions—particularly happiness and nervousness—and job satisfaction among Colombian public-sector employees. Methodology: A quantitative study was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and secondary survey data from employees in Colombian public-sector organizations. Results: Higher perceived nepotism was associated with greater nervousness, lower happiness, and lower job satisfaction. Happiness showed a positive and statistically significant relationship with job satisfaction, whereas nervousness was not significantly associated with this variable. The evaluated indirect effects were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Perceived nepotism is related to employees’ emotional well-being and job satisfaction, highlighting the importance of strengthening merit-based systems, transparency, and equity in public-sector human talent management. Contribution/Originality: The study provides empirical evidence on the joint relationship between nepotism, emotions, and job satisfaction in the Colombian public sector, a context that remains underexplored in Latin American literature, while examining the potential mediating roles of happiness and nervousness.

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