Analyzing the mediating effect of employee voice in the relationship between the teachers' leader-member exchange and work engagement

The objective of this study is to analyze the mediating effect of employee voice in the relationship between the teachers' LMX and work engagement and also to reveal the effects of some demographic factors on the research variables. The sample of the study consisted of 750 teachers employed at 40 public schools from kindergarten to high school from Ayaş, Beypazarı, Güdül and Sincan districts of Ankara in 2015–2016 education year. Independent samples t-test, one way ANOVA and Tukey test were applied between the demographic factors and research variables. The relations between the variables were calculated by Pearson's r, hierarchical regression and path anaysis within SEM. Sobel test was performed for the significancy of the mediating effect. The construct validity and reliability of the scales were examined through EFA, CFA, Cronbach Alfa, CR, AVE values. The findings revealed that direct effects of employee voice on work engagement and direct and indirect effects of LMX through employee voice on work engagement were positive and significant. In other words, employee voice mediated the the relationship between LMX and work engagement. The results of the study indicate that there were positive and significant relationships between all research variables. LMX and employee voice are significant predictors for work engagement. The findings of the study exhibit the level of teachers' leader member exhange is moderate degree and the level of teachers' employee voice and work engagement is high degree. Additionally, based on the findings about the demographic factors, gender and age on employee voice, age and education level on work engagement and gender on LMX have significant impacts.