A path analytic investigation of interrole conflict and organizational commitment related to performance ranking

Role theory can serve as a valuable conceptual framework to understand how an individual functions in the work and family domains. The challenge for any individual is to manage multiple roles to achieve balance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of multiple roles, interrole conflict, multiple role balance, and organizational commitment to performance ranking. The sample consisted of 344 County Extension agents in Texas. Family role, personal interest/self-development role, job role, interrole conflict, multiple role balance and organizational commitment were assessed using 4-point Likert scales.

Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the underlying patterns of responses to the 51 questionnaire items. Multiple role balance and interrole conflict were found to be intercorrelated, and were intergraded into one latent exogenous variable, interrole conflict. The five latent exogenous variables were defined by fifteen indicator variables, and the one manifest endogenous variable was determined by performance ranking.

The path analytic study was conducted using SAS^R CALIS. Results indicated that the personal interest/self-development role had a positive relationship with interrole conflict.

There was a significant positive relationship found between job role and organizational commitment. Time commitment was the strongest predictor of both family role and personal interest/self-development role, but was the weakest predictor of the job role. This suggested that Extension Agents devoted necessary time to fulfill job responsibilities at the sacrifice of time for family and self. These findings were congruent with previous empirical studies.