Teachers’ Organizational Commitment in Context: Exploring Individual, Social, and Leadership Factors

• In Event: Investigating the Relationship of Climate With Teacher Turnover and Well-Being

Abstract

Teacher shortages and turnover have increased in the past few years, highlighting the need to understand ways to improve on factors that exacerbate them. This study examines one of these factors --- teachers’ organizational commitment (OC) – looking at how individual behaviors, attitudes, and leadership styles influence OC, considering demographic and social moderators. Analyzing data from 113 elementary schools through multiple time periods, results show significant effects of upward voice, cynicism, and leadership orientations on OC, along with vision and people-oriented leadership. The study also finds that burnout is not a significant predictor in organizational commitment, disputing results on previous literature. Implications of this study inform interventions to help improve organizational commitment, and more broadly, enhance teacher retention and organizational effectiveness.

Author

• Catherine L. Zhang, University of Pennsylvania