Deciphering the Relationship between Person-Job Fit and Organizational Commitment: The Roles of Work Engagement and Affective Well-Being

Achieving employees’ organizational commitment (OC) is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of an organization. The role of person-environment fit (P-E fit) in fostering positive employee outcomes, including OC, has garnered significant attention from interactive psychologists. While previous research has established a direct relationship between various types of P-E fit and OC, the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship and the individual-level moderators that influence it remain less well understood. This study investigates the relationship between person-job it (P-J fit) and OC, focusing on the mediating role of work engagement (WE) and the moderating role of affective well-being (AWB). Using survey data from 179 employees across various industries in South Korea, this study examines how P-J fit enhances OC through WE and how AWB amplifies this effect. The findings reveal that P-J fit fosters WE, which, in turn, strengthens OC. Moreover, higher levels of AWB further enhance the positive impact of P-J fit on WE and OC. This study contributes to the literature on P-E fit and organizational behavior by uncovering the complex mechanisms underlying these relationships and highlighting the interactive effects of workplace alignment and individual attributes.