Exploring the link between distributed leadership and teacher enthusiasm in a centralized education system: The mediation of teacher growth mindset and the moderation of supportive school culture

Abstract

This study aimed to test a multilevel moderated mediation model of distributed leadership's associations with teacher enthusiasm, with teacher growth mindset as the mediator and supportive school culture as the moderator. We employed data from 1056 Turkish teachers working in 96 basic and upper secondary schools and performed multilevel structural equation modelling with Bayesian estimation. Our findings revealed direct associations of distributed leadership with teacher enthusiasm and indirect associations via teacher growth mindset. Additionally, supportive school culture significantly moderated distributed leadership's direct relationship with teacher growth mindset and its indirect relationship with teacher enthusiasm through teacher growth mindset. This study adds nuanced evidence to the global school leadership literature by elucidating the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which distributed leadership influences teacher enthusiasm. We provide implications for policy and practice.