Leadership Styles, Trust in Organizations, and the Mediating Role of Organizational Culture in Affective Occupational Commitment in Turkish Universities

Leadership, organizational culture, and their effects on employee attitudes are key focuses in organizational behavior studies. In this research, there were two main aims: first, to explore how organizational trust influences the relationship between leadership styles and organizational culture, and second, to clarify the mediating role of organizational culture in the link between leadership styles and affective occupational commitment among academics in Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants were selected from various states and private universities using convenience sampling. A cross-sectional survey involving quantitative methods were used to examine the relationships between key variables. The data was collected from 352 respondents. Effective leaders build trust and adapt organizational culture, which fosters employee commitment to their roles. Despite the relevant theoretical framework, there is a strong and positive link between trust in organization, leadership, and organizational culture, so the hypothesized moderating role of trust in organization was rejected. In contrast, the findings confirm the mediating role of organizational culture in the connection between leadership styles and affective occupational commitment. Moreover, another significant research finding was that leadership styles are effective when an organization has a supportive and innovative culture. Most academics expressed dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of leadership and their work environment, indicating challenges in promoting a positive culture. This study clarifies the dimensions of leadership styles, organizational trust, culture, and emotional commitment, thereby contributing to the literature concerning these areas.