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Journals / Kuramsal Eğitimbilim Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3

The Effect of Empowering Leadership on Teachers' Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Trust in Leader

Güçlendirici Liderliğin Öğretmenlerin Örgütsel Bağlılığı Üzerindeki Etkisi: Lidere Güvenin Aracılık Rolü

Gamze Tuti(TRABZON ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-8831-6613
Pages
475–499
Publication Date
2026-07-27
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that empowering leadership positively predicted both trust in leaders and organizational commitment, while trust in leaders partially mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and organizational commitment.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Although various leadership styles influencing teachers’ organizational commitment have been extensively examined, the mediating mechanism of trust in leaders within the empowering leadership framework has received limited empirical attention, particularly in centralized and hierarchical education systems.
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Key Findings & Data:A cross-sectional research design was utilized, involving 694 high school teachers from ten provinces that reflect the regional diversity of Türkiye.
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Conclusion & Impact:Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that empowering leadership positively predicted both trust in leaders and organizational commitment, while trust in leaders partially mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and organizational commitment.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:güçlendirici liderlik · örgütsel bağlılık · lidere güven

Abstract

Although various leadership styles influencing teachers’ organizational commitment have been extensively examined, the mediating mechanism of trust in leaders within the empowering leadership framework has received limited empirical attention, particularly in centralized and hierarchical education systems. This study investigates the direct and indirect effects of empowering leadership on teachers’ organizational commitment, emphasizing the mediating role of trust in leaders. A cross-sectional research design was utilized, involving 694 high school teachers from ten provinces that reflect the regional diversity of Türkiye. Participants responded to previously developed and validated scales adapted into Turkish measuring empowering leadership, trust in leader, and organizational commitment. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that empowering leadership positively predicted both trust in leaders and organizational commitment, while trust in leaders partially mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and organizational commitment. These findings suggest that empowering leadership enhances teachers’ organizational commitment primarily by fostering trust-based and participative relationships. The study contributes to leadership and organizational psychology literature by clarifying the role of trust as a psychological mechanism linking empowerment-oriented leadership behaviors to organizational attachment. Furthermore, the findings offer practical implications, indicating that leadership development programs should prioritize trust-building competencies alongside the promotion of empowerment practices to strengthen organizational commitment within centralized educational systems.

Özet

Öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılığını etkileyen çeşitli liderlik tarzları kapsamlı biçimde incelenmiş olsa da, güçlendirici liderlik çerçevesinde liderlere duyulan güvenin aracılık mekanizması, özellikle merkezi ve hiyerarşik eğitim sistemlerinde sınırlı biçimde araştırılmıştır. Bu çalışma, güçlendirici liderliğin öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılığı üzerindeki doğrudan ve dolaylı etkilerini, liderlere duyulan güvenin aracılık rolüne odaklanarak incelemektedir. Türkiye’nin bölgesel çeşitliliğini yansıtan on ilden 694 lise öğretmeninin katılımıyla kesitsel bir araştırma deseni uygulanmıştır. Katılımcılar, güçlendirici liderlik, lidere güven ve örgütsel bağlılık düzeylerini ölçen daha önce geliştirilmiş ve Türkçe’ye uyarlanmış geçerli ve güvenilir ölçekleri yanıtlamıştır. Yapısal eşitlik modellemesi sonuçları, güçlendirici liderliğin hem lidere güveni hem de örgütsel bağlılığı pozitif yönde yordadığını; ayrıca lidere güvenin bu ilişkiye kısmen aracılık ettiğini göstermiştir. Bulgular, güçlendirici liderliğin güven temelli ve katılımcı ilişkileri teşvik ederek öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılığını güçlendirdiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırma, güçlendirmeye dayalı liderlik davranışlarını örgütsel bağlılığa bağlayan psikolojik bir mekanizma olarak güvenin rolünü açıklığa kavuşturarak literatüre katkı sağlamaktadır. Ayrıca, liderlik geliştirme programlarının örgütsel bağlılığı artırmak için güven oluşturma yeterliklerine öncelik vermesi önerilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Tuti, G. (2026). The Effect of Empowering Leadership on Teachers' Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Trust in Leader. Kuramsal Eğitimbilim Dergisi, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3, 475–499. https://doi.org/10.30831/akukeg.1814104

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