Work Motivation and Fear Culture of Teachers Working in Private Educational Institutions in Turkey

ER M.

SAGE Open, vol.16, no.1, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 16 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/21582440261430146
  • Journal Name: SAGE Open
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Education Abstracts, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: correlational research model, culture of fear, private school teachers, school environment, structural equation modeling, work motivation
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study investigated the predictive role of teachers’ perceptions of a fear culture in their schools on their sources of work motivation. A correlational research model focusing on latent variables and their relationships was used to analyze the data. Data were collected from 336 teachers working at different levels in private schools using the Schools of Fear Culture Scale (SFCS) and the Sources of Teacher Work Motivation Scale (STWMS). After the data collection process, normality tests showed that the data were normally distributed, allowing the use of parametric analyses. After modifications within the framework of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the final model was found to exhibit a good fit. The findings revealed that teachers’ perceptions of a fear culture negatively affect their sources of work motivation. This result indicates that the presence of a fear culture in schools significantly weakens teachers’ work motivation.