Influence Factors on Job Satisfaction among Malaysia Educator: A Study of UUM Academic Staffs

Over the past several years, considerable attention has been given to role conflict, role clarity, job tension, and job satisfaction as four very important determinants of the performance of individuals and their impact on the operational effectiveness of the organization. Without neglecting the concept of communication in the organization, this study emphasized the empathy variable as a new dimension in examining its effect within the traditional framework of role conflict, role clarity, job tension, and job satisfaction. There is limited research found on the educational fields, thus this research attempt to see the contribution of empathy among academic staff in educational sector. This paper aims to investigate the antecedents of job satisfaction among academic staff in Malaysia. Using primary data collection method, a total of 100 academic staffs at Universiti Utara Malaysia were surveyed with a questionnaire. From the literature, four antecedents of job satisfaction are identified. Each variable is measured using 5-point interval scale: job tension (9 items), role conflict (8 items), role clarity (5 items), and empathy (6 items) and job satisfaction (9 items). The data were analyzed using Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 16. Confirmatory factor analysis of measurement models indicate adequate goodness of fit at GFI=0.906, P-Value=0.075, RMSEA=0.054 and ratio (cmin/df) = 1.287. the finding supports one significant direct effect in the revised model, thus supporting the hypothesis of empathy is negatively related to job satisfaction (β = -5.475, cr = - 2.442, p < 0.001).