Ethical Leadership Practices and Staff Organizational Commitment

The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in Public Universities of Eastern Ethiopia

Authors

  • Befekadu Zeleke Kidane Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
  • Feyera Dinsa Hundessa Haramaya University, Ethiopia
  • Tadesse Hailu Afework Haramaya University, Ethiopia
  • Guyasa Desalegn Mekonnen Haramaya University, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jsmefk78

Keywords:

Ethical leadership, Job satisfaction, , Commitment

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the status of ethical leadership practices and their impact on academic staff organizational commitment. A survey design was employed in this study. A sample size of 351 academic staff and 242 university leaders was selected. The Ethical Leadership Survey, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, and three commitment models were used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential data analyses were conducted. The study revealed notable differences in perceptions between university leaders and academic staff about ethical leadership practices. The study revealed that Ethical leadership predicts the organizational commitment of academic staff. Job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and academic staff affective commitment. However, it fully mediates between ethical leadership, continuance commitment, and normative commitment.  

 

Author Biographies

  • Befekadu Zeleke Kidane, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

    Dr. Befekadu Zeleke is an Associate Professor at Addis Ababa University, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Educational Planning and Management. 

  • Feyera Dinsa Hundessa , Haramaya University, Ethiopia

    Dr. Feyera Dinsa is an assistant professor and a lecturer at Haramaya University, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Educational Planning and Management. 

  • Tadesse Hailu Afework, Haramaya University, Ethiopia

    Dr. Tadesse Hailu is an assistant professor and a lecturer at Haramaya University, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Educational Planning and Management.

  • Guyasa Desalegn Mekonnen, Haramaya University, Ethiopia

    PhD student and a lecturer at Haramaya University, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

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Published

2026-04-26

Issue

Section

Education, Technology, and Scientific Innovation

How to Cite

Kidane, B. . Z., Hundessa , F. D., Afework, T. H., & Mekonnen, G. D. . (2026). Ethical Leadership Practices and Staff Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in Public Universities of Eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 15(2), 219-240. https://doi.org/10.32674/jsmefk78