Modeling the Effect of Organizational Commitment on Job Burnout in Iran Football League Referees

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between organizational commitment and job burnout among Iran football league referees. In this descriptive-correlation study، 122 referees and assistant referees of Iran football leagues in season 2012-2013 participated voluntarily. Organizational Commitment Scale (Allen and Meyer، 1991) and Maslach and Jackson Burnout Inventory (1981) were used to collect data. The results revealed a significant and negative relationship between organizational commitment and job burnout، that is to say those referees who gained high organizational commitment scores had low job burnout. Also، the emotional exhaustion was the only eligible predictor of organizational commitment. The causal relationship between job burnout and organizational commitment showed the significant negative effect of job burnout on organizational commitment of referees. Since the job burnout reduced organizational commitment، it is recommended to identify and reduce causes of job burnout in order to prevent the decrease of organizational commitment and ultimately job performance.