EXPLORING GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ORGANISATIONAL COMMITMENT AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Authors

Tokunbo Abiodun Salako Department of Psychology, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria
Retta Akingbade Department of Psychology, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria
Remi Samson Ajiboye Department of Social Sciences, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

Gender Differences, Organisational Commitment, Healthcare Workers

Organisational commitment is a crucial factor in enhancing employee retention,

performance, and stability within healthcare institutions. Despite numerous studies on

organisational commitment, there is limited research on how gender influences commitment

among healthcare workers, particularly in the Nigerian context. This study investigated the

influence of gender on organisational commitment among healthcare workers in Ibadan. The study

adopted a cross-sectional research design involving 397 healthcare professionals, comprising

doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. The participants' gender distribution showed that there

were 176 males and 219 females, with ages ranging from 25 to 64 years, and a mean age of 41.58

years (SD = 9.90). Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Independent T-tests showed

that there were significant gender differences in normative organisational commitment (t(395) = -

3.89, p < 0.01), with female health workers (M = 26.11) showing higher commitment than male

healthcare workers (M = 23.95). However, there were no significant differences between male

healthcare workers and female healthcare workers and affective commitment (t(395) = -1.37, p >

0.05), continuance commitment (t(395) = -1.26, p > 0.05) and overall organisational commitment

(t(395) = 0.317, p > 0.05). The findings indicate that gender does not significantly influence

affective, continuance, or organisational commitment among healthcare workers. However,

female healthcare workers exhibit higher normative commitment than their male counterparts.

Healthcare organisations should foster a supportive environment and encourage loyalty through

programs that focus on organisational values, leadership, and inclusivity.