Work and Non-work Determinants of Organizational Commitment: A Study of Arab Teachers in Israel

There is growing interest in the literature regarding the effect of factors outside the work environment on attitudes and behaviors in the workplace. This research examined the relationship between work and non-work variables and affective organizational commitment (OC) among female Arab teachers in Israel. Female teachers from 13 schools in the North of Israel were surveyed and 209 useable questionnaires returned. The non-work variables were spousal support, coping strategies used to manage multiple domains, and work-tofamily and family-to-work conflict. The work determinants were work hours (full-time versus part-time) and organizational support for non-work. As the sample included teachers from 13 different schools, we analyzed the data using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), This technique made it possible to determine whether the findings were affected by the schools, or whether the results represent only individual differences among the research participants. The findings showed strong effects of organizational support for non-work and advice seeking on OC. The results strengthen our understanding of non-work determinants of work attitudes in a traditional culture, in which women continue to carry most responsibilities for family life, but they are potentially applicable to organizations anywhere. The findings have important practical implications for employers, suggesting that organizations aiming to increase their employees’ commitment should offer support in non-work as well as work domains.