Organizational commitment as a mediator between transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behavior: Evidence from rural public primary schools in Morocco

This study examines the causal relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and teachers’ organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB), focusing on the mediating role of Organizational commitment (0C). Data were collected through validated questionnaires from 189 teachers in Moroccan rural primary schools. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to assess both direct and indirect effects. Findings reveal that TL has a significant positive impact on OCB. OC not only mediates this relationship but also acts as an independent predictor of OCB. The study highlights the importance of strengthening OC as a mechanism through which TL promotes teachers’ engagement in extra-role behaviors. Practical implications stress leadership development initiatives for rural schools to foster supportive environments and improve educational performance.