Job satisfaction: a mediator of the quality of work life and organizational commitment nexus

Purpose The aim of this study is to explore the mediating influence of job satisfaction on the relationship between the quality of work life and organizational commitment, thereby examining the extent to which job satisfaction influences the connection between employees' quality of worklife and their commitment to the organization. Design/methodology/approach In order to evaluate the participants' responses to quality of work life, job satisfaction and commitment questionnaire, structural equation modeling was conducted to verify the proposed theoretical framework, with a sample of 427 academicians. Findings The outcomes of the research validate the significant role of quality of work life in forecasting organizational commitment. Through structural equation modeling, it was illustrated that job satisfaction acts as a noteworthy partial mediator between quality of work–life and organizational commitment. The findings highlight a substantial influence of quality of work life (QWL) on job satisfaction (JS), job satisfaction on organizational commitment (OC) and quality of work life on organizational commitment of academic staff in Indian universities. A one standard deviation increase in QWL is associated with a 0.35 standard deviation increase in organizational commitment and a 0.84 standard deviation increase in job satisfaction among university faculty. This indicates a moderate positive effect on commitment and a strong positive effect on satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The scope of this research was limited to specific universities in India and was designed as a cross-sectional study, which may pose challenges regarding generalizability and predictive accuracy. Practical implications This research offers a practical perspective suggesting that by enhancing the quality of work life for faculty members, a positive impact can be observed on their work-related attitudes, particularly satisfaction and commitment. Decision-makers and administrators should explore strategies to enhance satisfaction levels and improve the commitment of their staff. Originality/value This paper enriches the current body of knowledge by elucidating the mediating function of job satisfaction between quality of work life and organizational commitment. This particular area remains relatively unexplored, especially within the context of India.