This study examined how regional contextual factors influence organizational commitment and turnover intention among university faculty members nested within 96 universities (N = 4,073). Using multilevel modeling, mediation, and moderated mediation analyses, the study tested whether perceived local environmental satisfaction and university–industry–government collaboration affect turnover intention through organizational commitment, and whether this indirect effect varies by residential status.
The results showed that 3.7% of the variance in organizational commitment was attributable to between-university differences. Perceived university–industry–government collaboration exhibited a near full mediation pattern through organizational commitment. In contrast, local environmental satisfaction demonstrated a competitive mediation structure, with a negative indirect effect via organizational commitment and a positive direct effect on turnover intention. The indirect effect of local environmental satisfaction also varied by residential status, with a stronger effect among non-resident faculty members.
These findings indicate that regional context shapes turnover intention primarily through organizational commitment, and that residential embeddedness conditions this process. By incorporating spatial context into models of organizational attitudes, this study extends turnover research beyond institution-centered explanations.