The Role of Communication Satisfaction in the Relationship between Leader-Member Exchange and Teachers’ Affective Commitment

Abstract

In this research, the effect of leader-member exchange (LMX) on teachers’ affective commitment is examined using communication satisfaction as an intervening variable. Using a quantitative research method, data was collected with a cross-sectional survey. A regression analysis indicates that LMX has a significant effect on affective commitment of teachers in the five vocational colleges examined in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Further analysis showed that communication satisfaction (relational and informational communication satisfaction) partially mediated the influence of LMX (represented in this study as programme managers) on teachers’ affective commitment. The findings are consistent with previous studies about the influence of workplace relationships on teachers’ behaviors, especially supervisor-subordinate relationships. The implications of these findings are explained.

Keywords

• affective commitment
• communication satisfaction
• leader-member exchange
• supervisor-subordinate relationship
• workplace relationship