The Relationship Between the Inclusive Leadership of School Principals and the Occupational Commitment of Teachers: The Mediating Role of Organizational Trust

Öz

This study aims to examine the effects of inclusive leadership (IL) behaviors on teachers' professional commitment (PC) and the mediating role of organizational trust (OT) in this relationship. The research was conducted with 425 teachers working in the Pendik, Sultanbeyli, and Kartal districts of Istanbul in the 2024–2025 academic year, and data were collected using the simple random sampling method. The Inclusive Leadership Scale, Professional Commitment Scale, and Organizational Trust Scale were used to collect data. Correlation analyses and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used for data analysis. Model fit indices show that the proposed structure has a high level of fit with the data (χ²/df = 2.49; GFI = 0.970; AGFI = 0.944; NFI = 0.973; TLI = 0.975; CFI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.059). According to the analysis results, the effect of inclusive leadership on organizational trust is strong and significant (β = 0.879). The effect of OC on professional commitment was also significant (β = 0.456). While the direct effect of IL on OT was not significant (β = -0.096), the indirect effect (β = 0.401) through OC demonstrated full mediation. These findings suggest that the effect of inclusive leadership on professional commitment is largely mediated through organizational trust. The results of the study indicate that school administrators' adoption of an inclusive leadership approach plays a critical role in increasing teachers' organizational trust and professional commitment.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Inclusive leadership
• Organizational trust
• Occupational commitment
• Structural equation model
• Mediation

Etik Beyan

This research was found ethically appropriate by the Aksaray University Human Research Ethics Committee with Protocol Number 2025-70, dated 18/02/2025.

Teşekkür

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the process parties, especially the teachers who participated in the research, as well as to the journal management and board for contributing to the literature.

Okul Yöneticilerinin Kapsayıcı Liderliği ile Öğretmenlerin Mesleki Bağlılıkları Arasındaki İlişki: Örgütsel Güvenin Aracı Rolü

Öz

Bu çalışma, kapsayıcı liderlik (KL) davranışlarının öğretmenlerin mesleki bağlılığı (MB) üzerindeki etkisini ve bu ilişkide örgütsel güvenin (ÖG) aracılık rolünü incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, 2024–2025 eğitim-öğretim yılında İstanbul’un Pendik, Sultanbeyli ve Kartal ilçelerinde görev yapan 425 öğretmen üzerinde yürütülmüş olup, veriler basit seçkisiz örneklem yöntemiyle toplanmıştır. Veri toplamak amacıyla Kapsayıcı Liderlik Ölçeği, Mesleki Bağlılık Ölçeği ve Örgütsel Güven ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Veri analizi için korelasyon analizleri ve Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli (YEM) kullanılmıştır. Model uyum indeksleri, önerilen yapının veri ile yüksek düzeyde uyum sağladığını göstermektedir (χ²/df = 2,49; GFI = 0,970; AGFI = 0,944; NFI = 0,973; TLI = 0,975; CFI = 0,984; RMSEA = 0,059). Analiz sonuçlarına göre, kapsayıcı liderliğin örgütsel güven üzerindeki etkisi güçlü ve anlamlıdır (β = 0,879), ÖG’nin mesleki bağlılık üzerindeki etkisi de anlamlı bulunmuştur (β = 0,456). KL’nin MB üzerindeki doğrudan etkisi anlamlı olmamakla birlikte (β = -0,096), ÖG aracılığıyla ortaya çıkan dolaylı etkisi (β = 0,401) tam aracılığı göstermektedir. Bu bulgular, kapsayıcı liderliğin mesleki bağlılık üzerindeki etkisinin büyük ölçüde örgütsel güven aracılığıyla gerçekleştiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmanın sonuçları, okul yöneticilerinin kapsayıcı liderlik yaklaşımını benimsemelerinin öğretmenlerin örgütsel güvenini ve mesleki bağlılığını artırmada kritik bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kapsayıcı liderlik
• Örgütsel güven
• Mesleki bağlılık
• Yapısal eşitlik modeli
• Aracılık

Etik Beyan

Bu araştırma, Aksaray Üniversitesi İnsan Araştırmaları Etik Kurulu’nun 18/02/2025 tarihli, 2025-70 Protokol Numarası ile etik olarak uygun bulunmuştur.

Teşekkür

Araştırmaya katılan öğretmenler başta olmak üzere süreç tarafları ve aynı zamanda literatüre katkı sağlamada siz dergi yönetim ve kuruluna içten teşekkürlerimizi sunarız.

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