The impact of perceived organizational support on professional commitment: a moderation of burnout and mediation of well-being

Abstract

Purpose

In today’s challenging world, achieving professional commitment among healthcare workers is becoming the need of time. Drawing on self-determination theory, the current study examines how and under which boundary conditions perceived organizational support affects professional commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from doctors and nurses employed in public and private sector hospitals by employing a split-questionnaire design.

Findings

The authors’ study findings demonstrate that perceived organizational support has a positive and indirect effect on the professional commitment of nurses and doctors via mediating the role of subjective well-being. The authors also found that these findings depend on healthcare workers’ burnout levels. The positive relationship between perceived organizational support and subjective well-being is attenuated by burnout syndrome.

Practical implications

The current study poses implications for policymakers and administrators of healthcare institutions as well as to develop a supportive culture to evoke more professional commitment among healthcare workers. Implications for nursing managers and policymakers are discussed in light of the study findings.

Originality/value

Healthcare institutions are increasingly paying attention to raising the professional commitment of their workforce, especially in the wake of a crisis like the COVID-19 outbreak. The current study will add to the body of literature on nursing management, healthcare studies and organizational psychology in the South Asian context by explaining the relationship between POS and professional commitment, drawing on self-determination theory.