Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Principal Leadership Styles and Teacher Job Performance in Delta State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026285Abstract
This research examined how job satisfaction mediates the connection between principal leadership styles and teacher job performance in public secondary schools in Delta State, Nigeria. The study was guided by four research questions and hypotheses, aiming to explore the dynamics between leadership styles, job satisfaction, and teacher performance. A correlational survey design was used, involving a population of 20,251 teachers and principals across the state. A sample of 587 participants, including 311 teachers and 22 principals, was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were gathered using a self-developed questionnaire titled the Leadership Styles, Job Satisfaction, and Teacher Job Performance Questionnaire (LSJSJPQ), which had a reliability coefficient ranging from 0.71 to 0.88. The analysis incorporated coefficient of determination and regression analysis. The results indicated that principal leadership styles significantly influenced both teacher job performance and job satisfaction. Furthermore, job satisfaction was found to play a mediating role between leadership styles and teacher job performance. The study concludes that principal leadership styles are essential for shaping teacher outcomes and recommends improving leadership training, encouraging teacher participation in decision-making, enhancing work conditions, and regularly evaluating job satisfaction.
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