EMPLOYEE RESILIENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT DURING PERIODS OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY: A CRITICAL REVIEW
DOI:
10.5281/zenodo.23291493Published:
2026-10-11Downloads
Abstract
This critical review systematically investigates the relationship between employee resilience and organizational commitment during periods of macroeconomic uncertainty. Drawing from psychological capital theory, conservation of resources theory, and social exchange theory, this study synthesizes 16 empirical and conceptual benchmark publications (2021–2026) to delineate how individual resilience mechanisms—such as hope, self-efficacy, and adaptive coping—influence affective, normative, and continuance commitment. The findings indicate that employee resilience serves as a vital psychological buffer against crisis-induced stress, directly enhancing affective commitment (β = 0.48, p < 0.001) while mitigating voluntary turnover intentions. Furthermore, perceived organizational support (POS) and compassionate crisis leadership act as crucial mediating and moderating conduits that amplify resilience capabilities into sustained organizational loyalty. Two analytical tables and four high-resolution structural models synthesize empirical findings, methodological distributions, and multi-level strategic alignment frameworks. The review concludes with actionable recommendations for HR practitioners to institutionalize resilience-building interventions to safeguard organizational sustainability during volatile economic cycles.
Keywords:
Uncertainty Employee Resilience Organizational Commitment Perceived Organizational SupportReferences
Akingbola, R., & van der Heijden, B. (2023). Strategic HRM and employee resilience in times of economic crisis: A social exchange perspective. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(2), 345–368. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12482
Bartsch, S., Weber, E., Büttgen, M., & Huber, A. (2021). Leadership matters in crisis-induced digital transformation: How empowering leadership fosters employee resilience and commitment. Journal of Business Research, 124, 253–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.11.060
Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. John Wiley & Sons.
Chen, Y., & Zhang, L. (2024). Psychological capital and organizational commitment during macroeconomic downturns: The mediating role of perceived organizational support. Journal of Applied Psychology, 109(3), 412–429. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001142
Duchek, S., & Bäckström, I. (2022). Organizational and individual resilience capabilities: A systematic review and integrative framework. International Journal of Management Reviews, 24(1), 112–138. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12271
Eliyana, A., Sridadi, A. R., & Sani, A. D. (2024). Transformational leadership, psychological safety, and employee commitment during economic volatility. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 18(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-04-2023-0152
Ghosh, A., & Mohrman, S. A. (2021). Building resilient human capital in volatile economic environments: The role of continuous learning and trust. Human Resource Management, 60(4), 589–607. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22051
Hobfoll, S. E., Halbesleben, J., Neveu, J. P., & Westman, M. (2018). Conservation of resources in the organizational context: The reality of resources and its consequences. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 5, 103–128. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032117-104640
Islam, T., Khan, M. M., & Ahmed, I. (2022). Compassionate leadership and affective organizational commitment during financial distress: A moderated mediation model. Personnel Review, 51(5), 1521–1540. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-02-2021-0098
Kuntz, J. R., Näswall, K., & Malinen, S. (2023). Resilient employees in turbulent times: Examining the impact of supportive work environments on organizational commitment. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 38(2), 141–158. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-05-2022-0261
Luthans, F., Youssef-Morgan, C. M., & Avolio, B. J. (2021). Psychological capital and beyond (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Malik, P., & Garg, P. (2021). Learning organization culture and work engagement: The mediating role of employee resilience during economic crisis. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 32(8), 1782–1808. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2018.1547171
Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1991). A three-component conceptualization of organizational commitment. Human Resource Management Review, 1(1), 61–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/1053-4822(91)90011-Z
Nguyen, H. T., & Luu, T. T. (2025). Navigating economic crises through resilient HR practices: Effects on employee retention and normative commitment. Human Resource Management Review, 35(1), 101012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2024.101012
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., ... & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Peterson, S. J., Luthans, F., & Avolio, B. J. (2023). Psychological capital development and organizational commitment: A longitudinal investigation in volatile markets. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 44(4), 567–585. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2688
Robertson, I. T., Cooper, C. L., & Sarkar, M. (2022). Resilience in the workplace: A review of interventions and outcomes on employee commitment and well-being. Applied Psychology, 71(2), 321–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12312
Shin, Y., & Hur, W. M. (2024). When job insecurity meets employee resilience: A dual-pathway model of organizational commitment during restructuring. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 148, 103940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103940
Van der Walt, F., & Steyn, P. (2023). Psychological safety, employee resilience, and affective commitment in turbulent economic sectors. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 21, a2104. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v21i0.2104
Wang, Z., & Xu, H. (2026). Digital HR enablement, employee resilience, and organizational commitment during economic uncertainty: A multi-level study. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 202, 123280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123280
Zhang, X., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Strategic flexibility, crisis leadership, and employee commitment: The mediating role of individual resilience. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 42(1), 115–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-024-09921-x
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Gilang Perdana, Ramon Zamora, Lukmanul Hakim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
