Perceptions Of Organisational Politics And Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Roles Of Job Satisfaction, Affective Commitment And Work Engagement

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of perceptions of organisational politics (POP) on employees’ life satisfaction. Additionally, the study was aimed at examining whether job satisfaction, affective commitment, and work engagement mediated the relationship between POP and life satisfaction. This study adopted a quantitative approach and cross-sectional research design. Convenient sampling technique was utilised to draw a sample of 282 employees who work as senior administrators in two selected public universities in Ghana. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Questionnaires were administered at two points in time (Time 1 and Time 2 questionnaires) to participants via a time interval of two weeks. Hypotheses were tested via structural equation modeling. Analyses revealed support for all the hypotheses. Specifically, the findings showed that POP was negatively influenced life satisfaction. Furthermore, POP predicted life satisfaction via affective commitment, work engagement, and job satisfaction. The study is important because it is the first to identify POP as an antecedent of life satisfaction. In addition, the findings of the study extend our knowledge on POP and life satisfaction thorough three mediating mechanisms. Management of universities can enhance employees’ work and non-work outcomes through practices that diminish POP. These practices may include providing a clear definition for performance appraisal guidelines to reduce ambiguity, and incentivizing team efforts rather than personal efforts.