Teachers’ leadership traits and teachers' communication styles in preventing Maldives students’ misbehavior

Abstract

Misbehaviour among pupils is a growing concern in Maldivian lower secondary schools. Despite the increasing worries of teachers, parents, and educational leaders, limited research has explored how teachers' leadership traits and communication styles influence student behaviour. This study addresses this gap by examining the correlation between these factors in preventing misbehaviour. Due to a scarcity of literature in the Maldivian context, this research provides crucial insights into student misbehaviour and its prevention. The study focuses on teachers' leadership traits (extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness) and communication styles (assertiveness and responsiveness). It also explores whether these traits vary by demographic factors such as gender, educational qualification, and teaching experience and whether these factors moderate their effect on student misbehaviour. The study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional survey methodology, with 339 government schoolteachers participating in the research. A proportional stratified random sampling method was used, involving 149 male and 190 female teachers. The data was collected via an online questionnaire and was analysed using Pearson’s r correlation coefficient, Independent Samples t-tests, ANOVA, and Multiple Linear Regression with moderation analysis. This study reveals a significant correlation between teachers' leadership traits and communication style with misbehaviour prevention, highlighting communication style as the most influential predictor of effective classroom management. Teachers with 5-10 years of experience are more conscientious, while those with 0-5 years exhibit more neurotic behaviour. Notably, teachers’ gender, qualifications, and experience do not moderate the relationship between teachers' leadership traits, communication styles and misbehaviour prevention. This study contributes to educational planning and management strategies to reduce student misbehaviour in Maldivian schools. Future research should employ mixed-method approaches, conduct longitudinal studies, include private schools, integrate student perspectives, and expand to all educational levels. These findings provide valuable guidance for educators and policymakers in improving classroom management and discipline strategies.

Keywords Student Misbehaviour, Teacher Leadership Traits, Communication Styles, Preventing Student Misbehaviour, Secondary School.