SES AS A PREDICTOR OF COMMITMENT: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY IN PREDICTING WORK AND LIFE OUTCOMES OF LOW SES WORKERS

Abstract

This research aims to determine if a novel approach to attitudinal commitment is meaningful in predicting work and life outcomes across socioeconomic status (SES). I present the concept of community commitment, an attitudinal commitment that is defined by cultural experiences that elicit feelings of pride, obligation to others, and identity, and can therefore affect an individual’s relationship to the workplace and life outcomes. Further, I explore how the impacts of resource-based stress and cultural identity may help explain the relatively greater importance of community commitment for low SES workers. This study found counter hypothetical results, indicating community commitment is stronger as an individual’s SES increases. By exploring the roles of community commitment, this research exemplifies the need of better understanding low SES workers and the relational impact of their communities to build a more resilient and inclusive workforce.