When job satisfaction is not enough: The role of organisational commitment and need fulfilment in shaping moonlighting intentions

Abstract

Orientation: By addressing moonlighting intentions, universities can support faculty well-being and job stability, which ultimately contributes to the quality of education and reduces potential conflicts of interest in academia.
Research purpose: The study aims to examine the effect of job satisfaction on moonlighting intention, with organisational commitment and need fulfilment as moderating variables, in the context of higher education lecturers in Indonesia.
Motivation for the study: The study focuses on lecturers from private universities in two cities, which may limit the generalisability of the findings. Future research could expand the scope to include different regions, sectors or longitudinal data to strengthen external validity.
Research approach/design and method: A quantitative approach was employed using survey data from 221 lecturers at private universities in Bandung and Yogyakarta. Data were analysed with structural equation modelling using the partial least squares (SEM-PLS) method.
Main findings: The results show that job satisfaction positively influences moonlighting intention. Furthermore, both organisational commitment and need fulfilment significantly moderate the relationship between job satisfaction and moonlighting intention, indicating that psychological and economic needs play a crucial role in shaping dual work behaviour.
Practical/managerial implications: The findings highlight the importance for higher education institutions to develop human resource management strategies that not only improve job satisfaction but also strengthen organisational commitment and address faculty members’ needs to reduce moonlighting tendencies.
Contribution/value-add: This study enriches the literature on moonlighting by integrating organisational and psychological perspectives and offering empirical evidence from the underexplored context of higher education in Indonesia.