Mediating Role of Organisational Support on Work Diversity and Employee Commitment in Higher Educational Institutions in Adamawa State Nigeria

Abstract

Workforce diversity has become an increasingly salient feature of higher educational institutions, yet empirical evidence on how diversity translates into positive employee outcomes remains inconclusive, particularly in developing country contexts. This study investigates the mediating role of organisational support in the relationship between workforce diversity and employee commitment in higher educational institutions in Adamawa State, Nigeria, drawing on Organisational Support Theory as its theoretical foundation. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 405 academic and non-academic staff across selected tertiary institutions through a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using multiple regression analysis and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4) to test direct and indirect relationships among the study variables. The results indicate that workforce diversity has a significant positive effect on employee commitment and a strong positive influence on perceived organisational support. Organisational support also exerts a significant positive effect on employee commitment. Mediation analysis further reveals that organisational support partially mediates the relationship between workforce diversity and employee commitment, indicating that diversity enhances commitment both directly and indirectly through employees’ perceptions of organisational care, fairness, and inclusion. These findings extend Organisational Support Theory by demonstrating how organisational support functions as a critical explanatory mechanism connecting diversity to employee attitudes in higher education settings. The study contributes context-specific evidence from Nigerian tertiary institutions and highlights the importance of supportive organisational practices in harnessing the benefits of workforce diversity. In conclusion, the study shows that workforce diversity is more likely to foster employee commitment when embedded within supportive organisational environments, highlighting organisational support as a strategic impetus for enhancing commitment in diverse educational institutions.