Antecedents, Mediators, and Consequences of Affective, Normative, and Continuance Commitment

Abstract

This study examines the constructs and the effects of three subdimensions of federal employees' organizational commitment—affective, normative, and continuance. Using the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) 2000 survey instrument and employing an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, multivariate regression, and a structural equation model, the authors empirically test and measure (a) the dimensionality of the three commitment constructs, (b) how and to what extent antecedent variables would affect the three different commitment variables—affective, normative, and continuance— and (c) how these three commitment values differently influence several outcome variables. The authors confirm that there are three distinctive constructs of commitment to stay in federal agencies and that transformation-oriented leadership (TOL), empowerment, goal clarity, public service—oriented motivation (PSOM), procedural equity perceptions, and objective appraisal systems have direct and indirect effects on the commitment variables. Affective commitment is most significantly and positively associated with these antecedents, and higher affective commitment also has the most significant effect on organizational consequences.