Employees' organizational identification and affective organizational commitment: an integrative approach

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 13;10(4):e0123955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123955. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Although several studies have empirically supported the distinction between organizational identification (OI) and affective commitment (AC), there is still disagreement regarding how they are related. Precisely, little attention has been given to the direction of causality between these two constructs and as to why they have common antecedents and outcomes. This research was designed to fill these gaps. Using a cross-lagged panel design with two measurement times, Study 1 examined the directionality of the relationship between OI and AC, and showed that OI is positively related to temporal change in AC, confirming the antecedence of OI on AC. Using a cross-sectional design, Study 2 investigated the mediating role of OI in the relationship between three work experiences (i.e., perceived organizational support, leader-member exchange, and job autonomy) and AC, and found that OI partially mediates the influence of work experiences on AC. Finally, Study 3 examined longitudinally how OI and AC combine in the prediction of actual turnover, and showed that AC totally mediates the relationship between OI and turnover. Overall, these findings suggest that favorable work experiences operate via OI to increase employees' AC that, in turn, decreases employee turnover.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Leadership
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Organizational Culture*
  • Research Design

Grants and funding

Géraldine Marique was supported by grant 1141212F from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (FRS-FNRS, www.frs-fnrs.be). Gaëtane Caesens was supported by grant 1137015F from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (FRS-FNRS, www.frs-fnrs.be). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.