Affective commitment to the organization: the contribution of perceived organizational support

J Appl Psychol. 2001 Oct;86(5):825-36. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.86.5.825.

Abstract

Three studies examined the interrelationships among work experiences, perceived organizational support (POS), affective commitment (AC), and employee turnover. Using a diverse sample of 367 employees drawn from a variety of organizations, Study 1 found that POS mediated positive associations of organizational rewards, procedural justice, and supervisor support with AC. Study 2 examined changes of POS and AC in retail employees over a 2-year span (N = 333) and a 3-year span (N = 226). POS was positively related to temporal changes in AC, suggesting that POS leads to AC. Study 3 found a negative relationship between POS and subsequent voluntary employee turnover that was mediated by AC in retail employees (N = 1,124) and in poultry- and feed-processing workers (N = 262). These results suggest that favorable work conditions operate via POS to increase AC, which, in turn, decreases employee withdrawal behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Organizational Culture
  • Perception
  • Personnel Loyalty*
  • Personnel Turnover*