The Mediating Role of Organizational Support in the Effect of Ethical Climate on Organizational Trust

Abstract

Purpose - This research aims to investigate the mediating role of organizational support in the impact of ethical climate on organizational trust. Method - The sample for this study was obtained through the participation of 375 teachers working in public schools in the Adana province between the dates of May 17, 2023, and May 28, 2023. The dependent variable of the research is organizational trust, with ethical climate as the independent variable influencing this concept, and organizational support as the mediating variable. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Ethical climate was measured using a scale consisting of 7 questions developed by Schwepker et al. (1997) and translated into Turkish by Mumcu (2014). Organizational trust was measured using a two-dimensional scale consisting of trust in the manager and trust in the organization, originally developed by Nyhan and Marlowe (1997) and adapted to Turkish by Eğriboyun (2013), with a total of 12 items. Organizational support was measured using the organizational support scale, developed by Eisenberger et al. (1986), adapted into Turkish by Yılmaz (2014), consisting of 8 statements. Findings - According to the research results, it was determined that ethical climate has a positive and significant impact on the sub-dimensions of organizational trust, namely trust in the manager and trust in the organization. Furthermore, it was observed that ethical climate has a positive and significant impact on organizational support, and organizational support has a positive and significant impact on trust in the manager and trust in the organization. The mediating role of organizational support between ethical climate and organizational trust was tested, and the accuracy of the proposed hypotheses was explained. Discussion - If an ethical climate is established in schools, teachers who shape the future will perceive a positive impact on their trust in the organization, and organizational support will further enhance this positive climate. The findings of the study support the literature. Moreover, considering the limited number of studies that investigate the mediating role of organizational support in the impact of ethical climate on organizational trust, this research is expected to contribute to the field's lite rature