Understanding the Links between Work Commitment Constructs

This study investigated the conceptual distinctiveness and causal links (based on Randall and Cote's (1991) model) between organizational commitment (OC), occupational commitment (OcC), job involvement (JI), work involvement (WI), and intentions to withdraw from the organization and from the occupation. The process involved exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses which supported the distinctiveness of the constructs. Results suggest that WI affects both OC and OcC indirectly through its effect on JI. Furthermore, JI affects intention to leave the organization indirectly through its effect on OC and affects intention to leave the occupation indirectly through its effect on OcC. Analyses also suggest that OC and OcC have direct and indirect effects on both forms of withdrawal intentions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.