FOSTERING PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY: THE IMPACT OF INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS ON TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION AND TEAM INNOVATION
Netherlands Netherlands Netherlands 
Abstract
Inclusive leadership in schools has gained increasing attention for its potential to foster a positive organizational climate and improve key outcomes, such as teacher job satisfaction and team innovation. Despite growing interest, there is limited empirical research on how inclusive leadership directly impacts these factors in educational settings. This study aims to examine the relationship between inclusive leadership and teacher job satisfaction, as well as the mediating role of psychological safety in enhancing team innovation in schools. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, combining quantitative surveys administered to 300 teachers with qualitative interviews conducted with 20 school leaders. The results revealed that inclusive leadership significantly contributed to higher levels of teacher job satisfaction and psychological safety. Furthermore, psychological safety was found to mediate the relationship between inclusive leadership and team innovation, highlighting its critical role in promoting a collaborative and innovative work environment. The findings suggest that when school leaders demonstrate inclusive behaviors, such as fostering open communication, valuing diverse perspectives, and supporting professional development, it creates a psychologically safe environment where teachers feel valued and motivated to contribute innovative ideas. This study underscores the importance of inclusive leadership in enhancing both teacher well-being and the innovative capacity of school teams.
Full text article
References
Almutairi, M., Timmins, F., Wise, P. Y., Stokes, D., & Alharbi, T. A. F. (2025). Authentic Leadership—A Concept Analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(4), 1775–1793. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16496
Barone, M., De Bernardis, R., & Persichetti, P. (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Plastic Surgery: Analysis of Applications, Perspectives, and Psychological Impact. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 49(5), 1637–1639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-024-03988-1
Blokland, K., Janke, N., & Coe, J. B. (2025). Veterinary team relational coordination is associated with healthier perception of workplace psychological climate, increased job satisfaction, and reduced intention to leave. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 263(6), 746–754. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.09.0570
Chance, E. A. (2025). The combined impact of AI and VR on interdisciplinary learning and patient safety in healthcare education: A narrative review. BMC Medical Education, 25(1), 1039. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07589-7
Dhir, S., & Vallabh, P. (2025). Do social relationships at work enhance creativity and innovative behavior? Role of psychological safety. Acta Psychologica, 253, 104751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104751
Henry, N., Witt, A., & Vasil, S. (2025). A ‘design justice’ approach to developing digital tools for addressing gender-based violence: Exploring the possibilities and limits of feminist chatbots. Information, Communication & Society, 28(11), 1884–1907. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2024.2363900
Kayyali, M. (2025). Leadership’s Role in Fostering a Resilient Organizational Culture: In J. C. D. Rouco & P. C. N. Figueiredo (Eds.), Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science (pp. 267–294). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8809-9.ch009
Li, J., Liao, J., Chen, S., & Guo, C. (2024). The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs and Meaning in Life in Adolescent Suicidal Ideation. Behavioral Sciences, 15(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15010014
Liao, Y., Peng, X., Wang, H., Xie, R., Wang, R., Cao, X., & Chen, R. (2025). Experiences of bullying and coping resources in nursing students during clinical placement. Nurse Education Today, 147, 106622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106622
Martins, T. B., Lorenzetti Branco, J. H., Martins, T. B., Santos, G. M., & Andrade, A. (2025). Impact of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students and recommendations for the post-pandemic period: A systematic review. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 43, 100941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100941
Mert, I. S., & Koksal, K. (2025). Unveiling the heart of disaster nursing: A qualitative study on motivations, challenges, and lessons from the devastating 2023 Turkey earthquakes. International Nursing Review, 72(2), e13023. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.13023
Ponte, L. G. S., Ribeiro, S. F., Pereira, J. C. V., Antunes, A. E. C., Bezerra, R. M. N., & Da Cunha, D. T. (2025). Consumer Perceptions of Functional Foods: A Scoping Review Focusing on Non-Processed Foods. Food Reviews International, 41(6), 1738–1756. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2025.2453030
Rego, A., Meyer, M., Júnior, D. R., & Cunha, M. P. E. (2025). Wise leaders fostering employees’ speaking up behaviors: Developing and validating a measure of leader-expressed practical wisdom. Review of Managerial Science, 19(1), 157–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-024-00740-6
Veronese, G., & Kagee, A. (2025). Does psychology fail in the face of genocide? Insights about Gaza before and after October 7, 2023. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 18(2), 185–199. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-07-2024-0053
Yang, Y., & Kim, M.-Y. (2024). Promoting Sustainable Transportation: How People Trust and Accept Autonomous Vehicles—Focusing on the Different Levels of Collaboration Between Human Drivers and Artificial Intelligence—An Empirical Study with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and Multi-Group Analysis. Sustainability, 17(1), 125. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010125
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Jeroen de Vries, Eva Janssen, Pieter Hendriks
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
