Institutional Justice, Psychological Capital, and Sustainable Commitment: A Structural Equation Model with a gender perspective in Higher Education (#2420)

Authors

Benites-Rodriguez, Joseph

Benites-Angulo, Luis

Benites-Angulo, Carlos

Grados-Gamarra, Juan

Duran-Herrera, Victor

Huarcaya-Godoy, Madison

Torres-Quiroz, Almintor

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between institutional justice, psychological capital, and sustainable commitment in university students, using a gender-differentiated structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Data from 233 students (131 women, 102 men) were analyzed using maximum likelihood estimation. The results reveal that institutional justice significantly predicts psychological capital (β=0.68, p<0.001) and sustainable commitment (β=0.42, p<0.001). Psychological capital mediates 45.5% of the total effect (VAF=0.455). The multigroup analysis revealed significant gender differences: women showed stronger trajectories from institutional justice to psychological capital (β=0.72 vs β=0.63, Δχ²=5.87, p<0.05) and from psychological capital to sustainable commitment (β=0.55 vs β=0.46, Δχ²=4.32, p<0.05). The model fit indices were excellent (χ²/df=2.15, CFI=0.96, TLI=0.95, RMSEA=0.045, SRMR=0.038). These findings contribute to understanding how perceived equity in academic institutions influences students' psychological resources and pro-environmental behaviors.