Destructive Leadership and Turnover Intention among Chinese Rural Kindergarten Teachers: The Mediation of Ego Depletion and the Moderation of Kindergarten Affiliation

One of the main challenges to the growth of early childhood education in rural China is the high teacher turnover rates. This study investigated the association between destructive leadership and turnover intention, as well as the mediating function of ego depletion and the moderating role of kindergarten affiliation, based on social exchange theory and ego depletion theory. A total of 409 Chinese rural kindergarten teachers were selected to complete a questionnaire on destructive leadership, ego depletion, and turnover intention. The results revealed that destructive leadership, ego depletion, and turnover intention were positively correlated. After controlling for age, destructive leadership was a positive predictor of turnover intention. The mediation model test revealed that ego depletion acted as a mediator between destructive leadership and turnover intention. Moreover, kindergarten affiliation mitigated the impact of destructive leadership on ego depletion. This effect is more pronounced in public kindergarten teachers compared to private kindergarten teachers. This study adds to our knowledge of the contributing factors and functioning mechanisms underlining turnover intentions among rural kindergarten teachers. It also provides new perspectives for policymakers and administrators to address rural kindergarten teacher attrition.