How transformational leadership affects teacher collective efficacy? the mediating role of professional learning communities and the moderating role of trust

This study explored the mediating role of professional learning communities (PLCs) and the moderating role of principals' perceived trust by teachers in the effect of transformational leadership on teacher collective efficacy from Chinese principals' perspective. A survey was conducted among 822 principals in China. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling and bootstrapping. The results showed that transformational leadership had a significant and positive effect on teacher collective efficacy. PLCs significantly and fully mediated the effect of transformational leadership on teacher collective efficacy. Principals' perceived trust by teachers significantly and negatively moderated the effect of transformational leadership on PLCs. This study advanced our understanding of how transformational leadership affected teacher collective efficacy, and added the crucial perspective of principals to research in this field. The study also enriches the existing literature on the relationship between principals' transformational leadership and teacher collective efficacy in Chinese context. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.