Supportive Leadership and Psychological Safety of Teachers in Secondary Schools in Kayunga District, Uganda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53449/fj64fq68الكلمات المفتاحية:
empowerment، fair treatment، inspiration، psychological safety، recognitionالملخص
Psychological safety is increasingly recognised as an important factor in promoting teachers’ wellbeing, collaboration, and effectiveness in schools. In secondary schools, head teachers’ supportive leadership practices may influence the extent to which teachers feel psychologically safe in their work environment. Therefore, this study investigated how head teachers’ supportive leadership influenced psychological safety of teachers in secondary schools in Kayunga District, Uganda. Specifically, the study examined the influence of supportive leadership in terms of empowerment, inspiration, fair treatment and recognition on psychological safety of teachers. Using the quantitative approach, the study employed correlational research design. Data were collected from a sample of 209 teachers using self-administered questionnaire. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), recognition, inspiration and fair treatment had a positive significant influence on psychological safety of teachers. However, empowerment had a positive but statistically insignificant influence. The study concluded that empowerment does not fundamentally influence teachers’ psychological safety in secondary schools in Uganda, fair treatment plays a significant role in enhancing teachers’ psychological safety, inspirational leadership significantly promotes psychological safety among teachers, and recognition is necessary to enhancing psychological safety among teachers. The study recommended that head teachers should strengthen empowerment-oriented leadership practices, ensure fair treatment in handling of teachers, deliberately adopt inspirational leadership practices, and institutionalise teacher recognition systems that consistently acknowledge teachers’ efforts and contributions. The study provides practical insights for school administrators and education policymakers on leadership practices that can improve overall school environment, strengthening teachers’ psychological safety.
التنزيلات
المراجع
Ahn, J., & Park, J. (2026). The Effect of empowering leadership on innovative work behaviour among employees: Focusing on the mediating effects of psychological safety and knowledge sharing intention. Korean Human Resource Development Strategy Institute, 21(1), 121-153. https://doi.org/10.21329/khrd.2026.21.1.121
Alahiane, L., Zaam, Y., Abouqal, R., & Belayachi, J. (2023). Factors associated with recognition at work among nurses and the impact of recognition at work on health-related quality of life, job satisfaction and psychological health: A single-centre, cross-sectional study in Morocco. British Medical Journal open, 13(5), e051933. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051933
Al-Hadrawi, R. H., Alasady, A. A. A., & Alkaseer, N. A. (2023). The role of supportive leadership practices in addressing electronic management obstacles-an analytical study at Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University-Republic of Iraq. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(7), e01652-e01652. https://doi.org/10.26668/business review/2023.v8 i7.1652
Amutuhaire, S., Kato, J. K., Rwothumio, J. & Mugizi, W. (2025). Organisational justice and psychological well-being of teachers in government-aided secondary schools in Nakawa Division, Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda. East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 8(3), 200-214. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajass.8.3.3490
Arnold, J. A., Arad, S., Rhoades, J. A., & Drasgow, F. (2000). The empowering leadership questionnaire: The construction and validation of a new scale for measuring leader behaviors. Journal of Organisational behaviour, 21(3), 249-269. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(200005)21:33.0.CO;2-#
Arnold, K. A. (2017). Transformational leadership and employee psychological well-being: A review and directions for future research. Journal of occupational health psychology, 22(3), 381-393. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000062.
Azila-Gbettor, E. M., Honyenuga, B. Q., Atatsi, E. A., Laryea, C. N. A., & Quarshie, A. N. K. (2024). Reviewing the influence of positive leadership on worker well-being: A comprehensive analysis. Heliyon, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e2413 4
Azila-Gbettor, E. M., Nutsugah, F. F., Novixoxo, J. D., Glate, S. N., & Mensah, C. (2025). Empowering employee creativity in service organizations: Unlocking the role of ownership, employee vitality and supportive leadership. The Service Industries Journal, 45(9–10), 899–934. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2024.2370037
Batalla, M. F., Monsalvo San Macario, E., González Aguña, A., Herrero Jaén, S., Gonzalo de Diego, B., Manrique Anaya, Y., Jiménez Rodríguez, M. L., Melguizo Herrera, E., & Santamaría García, J. M. (2022). Validation and reliability of the Care Vulnerability Index: A study by interrater agreement and test-retest method. Nursing Open, 9(3), 1766–1773. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1203
Cachón-Alonso, L., & Elovainio, M. (2022). Organisational justice and health: Reviewing two decades of studies. Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology, 3218883. https://doi.org/ 10. 1155/2022/3218883
Cho, H., Cho, K., & Jung, H. (2025). Fair treatment and job satisfaction: A multilevel analysis of employment transition. Behavioural Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 15(11), 1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111524
Cho, H., Cho, K., & Jung, H. (2025). Fair treatment and job satisfaction: A multilevel analysis of employment transition. Behavioural Sciences, 15(11), 1524. https://doi.org/10.3390 /bs15111524
Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behaviour in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350-383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666 999
Edmondson, A. C., & Lei, Z. (2014). Psychological safety: The history, renaissance, and future of an interpersonal construct. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behaviour, 1, 23-43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091305
Eisenberger, R., Huntington, R., Hutchison, S., & Sowa, D. (1986). Perceived organisational support. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71(3), 500–507. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.71.3.500
Gerçek, R. G., Gökkaya, Ö., & Gerçek, M. (2026). The effect of employee recognition by the leader on innovative work behaviours: Psychological safety and employee improvisation as sequential mediators. Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty, 13(1), 150-170. https://doi.org/ 10.30 798/makuiibf. 1704816
Ghatak I. (2025). Role of leadership in creating an engaging workplace by nurturing OCB and work values among employees. Advances in Consumer Research, 2(5), 822-837.
Hair, J., & Alamer, A. (2022). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in second language and education research: Guidelines using an applied example. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(3), 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal. 2022.100027
Ip, E., Srivastava, R., Lentz, L., Jasinoski, S., & Anderson, G. S. (2025). Antecedents of workplace psychological safety in public safety and frontline healthcare: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 820. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060820
Jalil, M. F., Tariq, B., & Ali, A. (2023). Does meaningful work mediate the relationship between empowering leadership and mental health? Evidence from Malaysian SME employees. Frontiers in Sociology, 8, 1138536. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.113 8536
Jameel, A., Ma, Z., Liu, P., Hussain, A., Li, M., & Asif, M. (2023). Driving sustainable change: The power of supportive leadership and organisational citizenship behaviour in fostering environmental responsibility. Systems, 11(9), 474. https://doi.org/10.3390/ systems11 090474
Jeong, Y., & Kim, M. (2022). Effects of perceived organisational support and perceived organisational politics on organisational performance: Mediating role of differential treatment. Asia Pacific Management Review, 27(3), 190-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. apmrv.2021.08.002
Jo, H., & Shin, D. (2025). The impact of recognition, fairness, and leadership on employee outcomes: A large-scale multi-group analysis. Public Library of Science, 20(1), e0312951. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312951
Joo, B. K., Yoon, S. K., & Galbraith, D. (2021). The effects of Organisational trust and empowering leadership on group conflict: psychological safety as a mediator. Organization Management Journal, 20(1), 4-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/OMJ-07-2021-1308
Kibedi, H. K., Muwonge, C. M., P’Olak, K. A., Ssenyonga, J., Nakasiita, K. N. & Kakinda, A. (2026). Team psychological safety and knowledge acquisition in Uganda teaching hospitals: The moderating effect of reflection-in-action team learning practices. East African Journal of Health and Science, 9(1), 215-231. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajhs. 9.1.4453
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177 /001316447003000308
Kromsaenphim, W., Pheasa, A., & Chalakbang, W. (2025). The development of inspirational leadership indicators of school administrators under the office of the basic education commission in the Northeast. International Education Studies, 18(3), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v18n3p60
Kyambade, M., Tushabe, M., Mugerwa, G. W., & Namatovu, A. (2025). Am not contented at work: Unraveling socially responsible leadership and psychological safety on job satisfaction in Ugandan public universities. Management Research Review, 48(6), 863-882. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-05-2024-0344
Larkova, M. (2025). Employee recognition role in motivation and mental well-being in Estonian’s financial sector (Master’s thesis, Tallinn University of Technology). https://digikogu.taltech.ee/et/item/7d413992-7ccf-42a5-a303-c9105f24c004
Lau, F. (2017). Methods for correlational studies. In F. Lau, & C. Kuziemsky, Handbook of ehealth evaluation: An evidence-based approach. University of Victoria.
Li, M., Jameel, A., Ma, Z., Sun, H., Hussain, A., & Mubeen, S. (2022). Prism of employee performance through the means of internal support: A study of perceived organisational support. Psychology Research and Behaviour Management, 15, 965–976. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S346697
Lim, C. U., Dubinsky, A. J., & Levy, M. (1988). A psychometric assessment of a scale to measure organisational fairness. Psychological Reports, 63(1), 211-224. https://doi.org/10.24 66/pr0.1988.63.1.211
Maan, A. T., Abid, G., Butt, T. H., Ashfaq, F., & Ahmed, S. (2020). Perceived organisational support and job satisfaction: a moderated mediation model of proactive personality and psychological empowerment. Future Business Journal, 6(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-020-00027-8
Merino, M. D., & Privado, J. (2015). Does employee recognition affect positive psychological functioning and well-being? The Spanish journal of psychology, 18, E64. https://doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2015.67
Mitchell, R., & Boyle, B. (2019). Inspirational leadership, positive mood, and team innovation: A moderated mediation investigation into the pivotal role of professional salience. Human Resource Management, 58(3), 269-283. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm. 21951
Mohamed, A. F. A., Mohamed, A. S., & Mohamed Elzagh, D. M. (2025). Inspirational leadership and its relation to psychological wellbeing: Nurses organisational support as a mediator’s role. Tanta Scientific Nursing Journal, 36(11). https://doi.org/10.21608/ tsnj.2025.418548
Mpaata, K. A., & Mpaata, Z. (2019). The leadership role of secondary school head teachers in delivering integrative quality education in Uganda. International Journal of Educational Leadership and Management, 7(2), 203-230.
Ohana, M., Bensemmane, S., Diehl, M.-R., & Stinglhamber, F. (2024). Overall team justice and psychological strain: A daily diary study. International Journal of Psychology, 59, 441-449. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.13109
Park, H., Lee, K. S., Park, Y. J., Lee, D. J., & Lee, H. K. (2019). The association between organisational justice and psychological well-being by regular exercise in Korean Employees. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(12), 2223. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122223
Pates, J., Kotera, Y., & Clancy, D. (2017). Development and validation of the inspirational leader’s survey. International Journal of Work Innovation, 2(2-3), 172-192. https://doi.org/10.1504 /IJWI.2017.10012540
Piao, J., & Hahn, J. (2025). How empowering leadership drives proactivity in the Chinese IT industry: Mediation through team job crafting and psychological safety with ICT knowledge as a moderator. Behavioural Sciences, 15(5), 609. https://doi.org/10. 3390/bs15050609
Rodríguez-Ardura, I., & Meseguer-Artola, A. (2020). How to prevent, detect and control common method variance in electronic commerce research. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 15(2), i-v. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-18762020000200101
Rogers, C. R. (1954). Toward a theory of creativity. ETC: A review of general semantics, 249-260. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42581167
Roy, D. (2019). Development and validation of a scale for psychological safety in school among high school students in India. Management and Labour Studies, 44(4), 394-416. https://doi.org/10.1177/0258042X19870330
Roy, D. (2019). Development and validation of a scale for psychological safety in school among high school students in India. Management and Labour Studies, 44(4), 394-416. https://doi.org/10.1177/0258042X19870330
Rustamjonovich, S. S. (2021). Psychological protection in professional qualification. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences, 9(3), 16-22.
Salas-Vallina, A., Simone, C., & Fernández-Guerrero, R. (2020). The human side of leadership: Inspirational leadership effects on follower characteristics and happiness at work (HAW). Journal of Business Research, 107, 162-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres. 2018.10.044
Siami, S., Gorji, M., & Martin, A. (2023). Psychosocial safety climate and supportive leadership as vital enhancers of personal hope and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress and Health, 39(2), 404-413. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3192
Silva, B., Henricksen, J., Larsen, G., Talbot, K., & Stewart, C. (2025). “Just” speaking up requires increasing psychological safety. Pediatric Quality & Safety, 10(Suppl), e834. https://doi.org/10.1097/pq9.0000000000000834
Sivajee, V., & Chandra, B. (2019). A study of empowering leadership and constructive voice: The mediating role of psychological safety and LMX. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), 6(4), 107-124.
Sun, J., Yang, Z., Zhu, T., Jiang, Z., Zheng, X., Li, C., & Cao, X. (2023). The impact of organisational justice on psychological distress among Chinese public hospitals nurses: A cross-sectional study. Medicine, 102(17), e33684. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.000000000 0033684
Tankutay, H. K., & Çolak, İ. (2025). How school principals' empowering leadership influences teacher autonomy: The mediating role of teachers' academic optimism. British Educational Research Journal, 51, 1255-1270. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4125
Weziak-Bialowolska, D., & Bialowolski, P. (2022). Associations of recognition at work with subsequent health and quality of life among older working adults. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 95(4), 835-847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01804-w
Wong, Y. J. (2015). The psychology of encouragement: Theory, research, and applications. The Counselling Psychologist, 43(2), 178-216. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000014545091
Wong, Y. J., Li, P. J., Cheng, H. L., & McDermott, R. C. (2025). The anatomy of encouragement: Addressing the what, why, when, who, and for whom of encouragement messages. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 6(4), 560-590. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770251330870
Wongoutong, C. (2025). Performance comparison of various imputation methods for missing data mechanisms (MAR, MCAR, and MNAR) in a nonstationary time series. International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, 3031708. https://doi.org/10. 1155/ijmm/3031708
Yang, T., & Jiang, X. (2023). When colleague got recognized: Third-party’s reaction to witnessing employee recognition. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 968782. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg. 2023.968782






