Ethical Leadership and Organizational Commitment in Schools: A Meta-Analysis on Gender and Cultural Dynamics in the Asian Context

This research examines the relationship between school principals’ ethical leadership (EL) and teachers’ organizational commitment (OC) within the Asian context, exploring how this relationship varies across specific regional subgroups (Near East vs. Far East), school levels, and gender. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this meta-analysis synthesized 23 quantitative studies published between 2000 and 2025, encompassing 9,259 teachers from six countries (Turkey, Thailand, Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Northern Cyprus), and used a random-effects model. The analysis results demonstrated a statistically significant, moderate positive relationship ( r = .40) between EL and OC. Moderator analyses revealed that while school level did not create a significant difference, geographical region (in favor of the Near East) and gender were significant moderators. The findings show that EL is not merely a management tactic but a fundamental moral mechanism that deeply affects organizational cohesion in collectivist cultures. EL capacity should be centralized in administrator selection and professional development policies.