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Toxic Leadership in Greek Primary Education: Impacts on Teachers’ Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment

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  • Evaggelos Tzortsos

    (Faculty of Humanities, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, Greece)

  • Sophia Anastasiou

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece)

Abstract

This study explores the perceptions of primary school teachers in Sparta, Greece, regarding toxic leadership behaviors and their impact on job satisfaction (JS) and organizational commitment (OC). The study was motivated by the need to investigate how school management practices, particularly in smaller regional communities, influence teacher well-being—an area underexplored in the Greek educational context. A total of 163 teachers participated by completing validated questionnaires assessing toxic leadership, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified two factors explaining 61.3% of the variance: one linking toxic leadership and job satisfaction and another centered on organizational commitment. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between toxic leadership and both OC (r = −0.230, p < 0.001) and JS (r = −0.476, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis confirmed the predictive effect of toxic leadership on both variables. Interestingly, teachers with over 15 years of experience exhibited higher OC compared with those with up to 5 years of teaching experience, suggesting the resilience-building benefits of tenure. This study underscores the urgency for leadership development programs emphasizing ethical practices, emotional intelligence, and accountability to mitigate the adverse effects of toxic leadership.

Suggested Citation

  • Evaggelos Tzortsos & Sophia Anastasiou, 2025. "Toxic Leadership in Greek Primary Education: Impacts on Teachers’ Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:7:p:200-:d:1702900
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sophia Anastasiou & Konstantinos Ntokas, 2024. "Leadership and Quality Enhancement in Secondary Education: A Comparative Analysis of TQM and EFQM," Merits, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Teresa Lopes & Annelyse Soares & Ana Palma-Moreira, 2025. "Toxic Leadership and Turnover Intentions: Emotional Intelligence as a Moderator of This Relationship," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Mohamed Abdelkhalek Omar Ahmed & Junguang Zhang & Ahmed Sabry Fouad & Kawther Mousa & Hamdy Mohamed Nour, 2024. "The Dark Side of Leadership: How Toxic Leadership Fuels Counterproductive Work Behaviors Through Organizational Cynicism and Injustice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-28, December.
    4. Eleftheria Argyropoulou & Elissavet Elizabeth Lintzerakou, 2025. "Contextual Factors and Their Impact on Ethical Leadership in Educational Settings," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-24, January.
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