The PCMT Model of Organizational Support: Scale Development and Theoretical Application

The PCMT model of organizational support conceptualizes organizational support as consisting of four forms that differ in terms of their perceived target and ascribed motive. Across six studies (n = 1,853), we create and validate a psychometrically reliable scale that captures these four forms of organizational support, as well as offer a theoretical advancement to the organizational support literature. In particular, the first five studies involve content validation; assessment of factor analytic structure; tests of test-retest reliability and measurement invariance; and establishment of discriminant, convergent, and predictive validity. The final study involves deployment of the validated, 24-item scale in the field and illustrates that the four different forms of organizational support differentially predict the discrete dimensions of job burnout, the effects of which spillover and crossover into the home domain. This investigation thus offers both empirical and theoretical contributions. Empirically, we provide applied psychologists with an instrument for measuring the four forms of organizational support, enabling the emergence of new lines of research. Theoretically, we illustrate that the content and characteristics associated with the different forms of organizational support are important considerations as conceptual alignment between the type of organizational support perceived and the well-being outcome under study enhances the support's predictive validity.

Automated summary

This study creates and validates a reliable scale to measure the four forms of organizational support. The findings suggest that these different forms of support have differential effects on the dimensions of job burnout, and contribute to applied psychology and organizational support research both empirically and theoretically.