Title: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Principal Leadership Styles and Teacher Job Performance in Bayelsa and Delta States
Authors: Dr. B. Agboi
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
Pages: 83-89
Publication Date: 2026/07/28
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between principal leadership styles and teacher job performance in public secondary schools in Bayelsa and Delta States (BDS), Nigeria. The study was guided by four research questions and four hypotheses, focusing on the interaction between leadership styles, job satisfaction, and teacher performance. A correlational survey design was employed, with a population of 20,251 teachers and principals across the two states. A sample of 587 respondents was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling, comprising 311 teachers and 22 principals from Delta State, and 241 teachers and 13 principals from Bayelsa State. Data were collected using a self-developed instrument titled Leadership Styles, Job Satisfaction, and Teacher Job Performance Questionnaire (LSJSJPQ), which was validated by experts, yielding a reliability coefficient ranging from 0.71 to 0.88. The method of data analysis included coefficient of determination and regression analysis. The findings revealed that principal leadership styles significantly predicted teacher job performance and job satisfaction in both BDS. Furthermore, job satisfaction was found to mediate the relationship between leadership styles and teacher job performance. The study concludes that principal leadership styles significantly influence teacher outcomes, and recommends improving leadership training, increasing teacher involvement in decision-making, enhancing work conditions, and conducting regular job satisfaction surveys.