Title

To Be or Not to Be Committed: The Effects of Continuance and Affective Commitment on Absenteeism and Turnover Intent among Private Prison Personnel

Abstract

Despite the recent burgeoning of the private prison industry, little research has focused on private prison personnel. This study attempts to help fill this research gap by examining the relationship between two distinct forms of organizational commitment, continuance and affective, and the withdrawal outcomes of absenteeism and turnover intent for personnel at a Midwestern U.S. private prison. Results of an ordinary least squares (OLS) multivariate regression analysis supported our prediction of an inverse relationship between affective organizational commitment and the withdrawal outcomes of absenteeism and turnover intent; however, contrary to our hypotheses, the analysis indicated no statistically significant relationship between continuance organizational commitment and these withdrawal outcomes, after controlling for custody position, gender, age, tenure, education, race, and supervisory status. Our results suggest that enhancing employees' affective organizational bonds should be a priority for private correctional facilities because it has positive effects for both employees and the organization

Department(s)

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/193616https://doi.org/10.2013.738402

Keywords

private prison personnel, organizational commitment, affective commitment, continuance commitment, absenteeism, turnover intent

Publication Date

2013

Journal Title

Journal of Applied Security Research

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