The Relationship between Ethical Climate and Intent to Leave School: The Mediating Role of Organizational Commitment

The study aimed to explore the relationship between ethical climate and organizational commitment and intent to leave school levels of teachers. This study used a survey-based correlational design. The sample of this study consisted of 259 teachers in 24 schools that were selected randomly with cluster sampling method from the middle schools in the center of Hatay during the 2017-2018 academic year. Data of this study were collected by "Elementary School Ethical Climate Index", "Organizational Commitment Scale" and "Intent to Leave School Scale". According to structural equation modelling, ethical climate had a positive effect on teachers' organizational commitment levels while it has a negative effect on teachers' intent to leave school levels. Organizational commitment partially mediated the relationship between ethical climate and intent to leave. Based on the research results, it is helpful for school administrators to build an ethical climate in their schools to constitute positive work environment and develop positive attitudes of teachers towards job and school.