Inspiring teacher creativity through leader-teacher exchange (LMX): a job demands-resources perspective

Following the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework, this study examines the role of LMX in fostering teacher creativity. We proposed that teacher horizontal trust (job resource) would be related to teacher creativity through increased work engagement, and workplace stress (job demand) would be negatively related to teacher creativity through psychological strain and reduced engagement. Using a dataset of 5,053 teachers in 148 schools in Kyrgyzstan and employing several SEM models, the results showed that LMX was positively related to horizontal teacher-teacher trust but negatively associated with stress. A positive relationship was found between trust and engagement, as well as between stress and strain. While engagement was positively related to teacher creativity, the association between strain and teacher creativity was significant but marginal. We concluded that LMX functions as a lens through which teachers perceive their entire work experience, primarily influencing creativity through the path of work resources. In essence, our findings reveal that LMX boost teacher creativity by strengthening collegial trust and engagement, offering practical insights for educational innovation and change.