An examination of the relationship between dark leadership, organizational silence, and psychological resilience

This study investigates the relationship between dark leadership behaviors, organizational silence, and psychological resilience among teachers. The research was conducted with 435 teachers working in schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Erzincan province during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were gathered using the Dark Leadership Scale, Organizational Silence Scale, and Psychological Resilience Scale. The collected data were analyzed using quantitative methods through the SPSS software. According to research findings, teachers had low levels of perceived dark leadership and moderate levels of both organizational silence and psychological resilience. It was found that female teachers exhibited higher organizational silence compared to male teachers, while their psychological resilience was lower. Although age did not significantly affect perceptions of dark leadership or organizational silence, teachers aged 41–50 showed higher psychological resilience than those aged 21–30. There were no significant differences found based on length of service. However, teachers working in middle schools perceived higher levels of dark leadership than those in primary schools. Furthermore, a moderate and positive correlation was identified between dark leadership and organizational silence. A low-level negative correlation was found between dark leadership and psychological resilience, and similarly, a low negative relationship was observed between organizational silence and psychological resilience. The findings concluded that dark leadership is a significant predictor of both organizational silence and psychological resilience.