Broadening our perspective of employee-organization linkages: from organizational commitment to organizational attachment

Abstract

Attachment theory was applied to the study of employee-organization linkages. In addition, the predictive efficacy of organizational attachment was compared to that of organizational commitment. Two hundred and eighty four participants completed measures of organizational attachment, organizational commitment, stress, perceived organizational support, turnover intentions, and performance. Results showed that both attachment and commitment arc useful predictors of employee cognitions. Neither construct predicted performance (in-role or contextual) consistently. It is suggested that attachment theory can enhance organizations' understanding of important employee cognitions and behaviors.