An examination of the cross-cultural validity of a multidimensional model of commitment in Europe

This study examined the validity of a multidimensional model of employee commitment in Europe. The study was conducted using a sample of employees working for the translation department of the European Commission, located in Brussels. The survey questionnaire included measures of affective and normative commitment to the organization, the occupation, the work group, and Europe; continuance commitment to the organization and the occupation; and intent to quit. Participants (N = 580) pertained to 12 European nationalities and responded to a French or an English version of the questionnaire. Results showed that (a) for normative and continuance commitment, the organizational and occupational foci were not empirically distinguishable and that (b) both the commitment model and the relationships between commitment components and intent to quit were culturally invariant. On the other hand, evidence also emphasized the importance of considering multiple commitment components in predicting intent to quit. The implications of these findings are discussed.