The relationship between commitment forms and work outcomes: A comparison of three models

This study examined three models of the relationships between commitment foci and work outcomes such as turnover intentions, actual turnover, and absenteeism. The first is based on the traditional literature that argues that the relationship between commitment foci and outcomes is direct. The second is based on Morrow's model of universal forms of work commitment According to this model, job involvement mediates the relationship between the other commitment foci and outcomes. The third model is based on the conceptualization proposed by Randall and Cote. According to their model organizational commitment and occupational commitment should mediate the relationship between commitment foci and outcomes. In the study 283 nurses from three small hospitals in Israel were surveyed with a response rate of 62 percent. The results of path analysis (LISREL VIII) showed a better fit to the data of the Randall and Cote model. The article concludes with implications regarding the continuing assessment of Morrow's conceptualization to establish an acceptable definition and measurement of universal forms of work commitment.