Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece

This study explores the relationship between the transformational style of primary education Principals and the job satisfaction of their primary teachers in the Achaia region of Greece. A survey of primary school teachers in Greece (<i>n</i> = 411) revealed a strong positive association...

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Main Authors: Nick Panagopoulos, Kostas Karamanis, Sophia Anastasiou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/1/45
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author Nick Panagopoulos
Kostas Karamanis
Sophia Anastasiou
author_facet Nick Panagopoulos
Kostas Karamanis
Sophia Anastasiou
author_sort Nick Panagopoulos
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the relationship between the transformational style of primary education Principals and the job satisfaction of their primary teachers in the Achaia region of Greece. A survey of primary school teachers in Greece (<i>n</i> = 411) revealed a strong positive association between transformational leadership and job satisfaction, highlighting the critical role of effective leadership in fostering a positive and supportive work environment for teachers. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated significant correlations between leadership style and job satisfaction, considering both extrinsic and intrinsic parameters. Demographic factors, such as age and work experience, were associated with variations in satisfaction with the freedom to choose how to work, recognition for work, and promotion prospects. Specifically, older teachers expressed lower satisfaction levels in these areas. Moreover, the study highlighted the substantial impact of leadership style on job satisfaction. Age had a negative correlation with satisfaction with the freedom to choose how to work (r = −0.11, <i>p</i> = 0.019) and satisfaction with recognition for work (r = −0.112, <i>p</i> = 0.019), suggesting that older teachers tend to be less satisfied with these aspects of their jobs. Work experience had a negative correlation with satisfaction with promotion prospects (r = −0.14, <i>p</i> < 0.001), suggesting that more experienced teachers tend to be less satisfied with their prospects for career advancement. Transformational and personalized leadership styles were positively correlated with job satisfaction. Transformational leadership exhibited a strong positive correlation with satisfaction from the administration, colleagues, and working conditions (r = 0.785, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Transactional leadership also exhibits significant positive correlations with these aspects of job satisfaction, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. On the other hand, transactional leadership demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with overall job satisfaction (r = 0.301, <i>p</i> < 0.01), while no significant correlation is observed with satisfaction from the administration, colleagues, and working conditions. Passive laissez-faire leadership, in contrast, revealed negative correlations with all dimensions of job satisfaction, indicating a detrimental impact on the satisfaction levels of primary school teachers. These nuanced findings underscore the importance of considering multiple leadership styles in understanding their varied impacts on job satisfaction among teachers.
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spelling doaj.art-34210242f9ee477eb9fe4d106d347d7c2024-01-26T16:09:47ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022023-12-011414510.3390/educsci14010045Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, GreeceNick Panagopoulos0Kostas Karamanis1Sophia Anastasiou2Early Years Learning and Care Department, School of Social Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Accounting and Finance, School of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Ioannina, 48100 Preveza, GreeceEarly Years Learning and Care Department, School of Social Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, GreeceThis study explores the relationship between the transformational style of primary education Principals and the job satisfaction of their primary teachers in the Achaia region of Greece. A survey of primary school teachers in Greece (<i>n</i> = 411) revealed a strong positive association between transformational leadership and job satisfaction, highlighting the critical role of effective leadership in fostering a positive and supportive work environment for teachers. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated significant correlations between leadership style and job satisfaction, considering both extrinsic and intrinsic parameters. Demographic factors, such as age and work experience, were associated with variations in satisfaction with the freedom to choose how to work, recognition for work, and promotion prospects. Specifically, older teachers expressed lower satisfaction levels in these areas. Moreover, the study highlighted the substantial impact of leadership style on job satisfaction. Age had a negative correlation with satisfaction with the freedom to choose how to work (r = −0.11, <i>p</i> = 0.019) and satisfaction with recognition for work (r = −0.112, <i>p</i> = 0.019), suggesting that older teachers tend to be less satisfied with these aspects of their jobs. Work experience had a negative correlation with satisfaction with promotion prospects (r = −0.14, <i>p</i> < 0.001), suggesting that more experienced teachers tend to be less satisfied with their prospects for career advancement. Transformational and personalized leadership styles were positively correlated with job satisfaction. Transformational leadership exhibited a strong positive correlation with satisfaction from the administration, colleagues, and working conditions (r = 0.785, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Transactional leadership also exhibits significant positive correlations with these aspects of job satisfaction, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. On the other hand, transactional leadership demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with overall job satisfaction (r = 0.301, <i>p</i> < 0.01), while no significant correlation is observed with satisfaction from the administration, colleagues, and working conditions. Passive laissez-faire leadership, in contrast, revealed negative correlations with all dimensions of job satisfaction, indicating a detrimental impact on the satisfaction levels of primary school teachers. These nuanced findings underscore the importance of considering multiple leadership styles in understanding their varied impacts on job satisfaction among teachers.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/1/45school leadershiphuman resourcesmanagementjob satisfaction
spellingShingle Nick Panagopoulos
Kostas Karamanis
Sophia Anastasiou
Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece
Education Sciences
school leadership
human resources
management
job satisfaction
title Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece
title_full Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece
title_fullStr Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece
title_short Exploring the Impact of Different Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in the Achaia Region, Greece
title_sort exploring the impact of different leadership styles on job satisfaction among primary school teachers in the achaia region greece
topic school leadership
human resources
management
job satisfaction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/1/45
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