Antecedents of supervisor commitment: A causal model

This study developed and tested a causal model of supervisor commitment. Based on the organizational commitment and leadership literatures in conjunction with research and theory in the area of interpersonal relationships, three variables--similar work goals/values, supervisor support, and trust in the supervisor--were proposed as direct antecedents of supervisor commitment. Additional variables were also proposed to indirectly influence supervisor commitment. Data was gathered from questionnaires completed by 645 employees of The Ohio State University Hospitals. Although hypotheses concerning direct links in the model were supported, a path analysis of the overall fit of the proposed model did not demonstrate a good fit. A modified model was developed in which direct paths between some of the proposed indirect antecedents and supervisor commitment were added to the hypothesized model. Thus, most of the hypothesized relationships were included in the modified model, which did demonstrate a good fit. Psychological similarity and support appeared to be the strongest predictors of supervisor commitment. It was also found that supervisor commitment was positively related to organizational commitment, and fully mediated the effects of the antecedents on organizational commitment.