Abstract:
Integrating conservation of resources theory, theory of reasoned action and affective events
theory, the present study examines the relationship between teacher cynicism, teacher
autonomy and teacher job satisfaction. Data were garnered with a self-reported questionnaire
from 703 teachers working in state schools, Sri Lanka. The data were analysed with AMOS
and SmartPLS. The results disclose a positive relationship between cognitive cynicism and
affective cynicism and the study further confirms a mediating relationship between cognitive
cynicism and teacher job satisfaction through affective cynicism. The study made another
notable finding that the behavioral cynicism, the consequent of cognitive cynicism, mediates
the relationship between cognitive cynicism and teacher job satisfaction. In addition, the
results reveal a moderating effect of teacher autonomy of the relationship between affective
cynicism and teacher job satisfaction. Remarkably, the present study contributes to the
frontiers of extant literature and proffers many useful practical implications.
