Investigating the role of psychological need satisfaction as a moderator in the relationship between job demands and turnover intention among nurses

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Boudrias ◽  
Sarah-Geneviève Trépanier ◽  
Annie Foucreault ◽  
Clayton Peterson ◽  
Claude Fernet

Purpose Job demands can contribute to nurses’ turnover intention and this can have an impact on health services among the general population. It appears important to identify the work environment factors associated with turnover intention, as well as the psychological resources liable to act on this relationship. Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT), the purpose of this study (n=1179) is to investigate the relationship between two job demands (role ambiguity and role conflict) and turnover intention, as well as the moderating role of basic need satisfaction (autonomy, competence and relatedness) within these relationships. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses (Québec, Canada). Nurses completed an online questionnaire. To test the proposed moderating effect of satisfaction of the three psychological needs (i.e. autonomy, competence and relatedness) in the relationship between job demands (i.e. role ambiguity and role conflict) and turnover intention, path analysis was conducted using Mplus v.8 (Muthén and Muthen, 2017). Two models, one for each demand, were tested. Findings As expected, role ambiguity and role conflict are positively related to turnover intention. Results reveal a significant interaction between role ambiguity and satisfaction of the need for autonomy in the prediction of turnover intention. The satisfaction of the need for competence and the satisfaction of the need for relatedness did not moderate the relationship between role ambiguity and turnover intention. Satisfaction of the need for autonomy moderated the relationship between role conflict and turnover intention. Moreover, results revealed a significant interaction between role conflict and satisfaction of the need for competence in the prediction of turnover intention. Satisfaction of the need for relatedness did not moderate the relationship between role conflict and turnover intention. Research limitations/implications The results align with the theoretical propositions of several leading theories in occupational health which state that workers’ psychological functioning derives not only from the job characteristics of their work environment, but also from the psychological resources at their disposal. The study contributes to SDT. First, to date, this is the first study to investigate basic psychological need satisfaction as a moderator in the relationship between contextual factors and workers’ functioning. Second, the findings revealed the importance of assessing psychological needs separately, as each contributes in a specific way to workers’ work-related attitudes and adaptation to their professional environment. Practical implications Perceptions of autonomy and competence act as key psychological resources for nurses. Managerial support for autonomy (e.g. providing nurses with meaningful information regarding their work) and competence (e.g. providing nurses with frequent positive feedback regarding their work efforts) constitutes a series of key management practices that can foster perceptions of autonomy and competence. The findings show that two role stressors predict nurses’ turnover intention. As such, health care establishments are encouraged to focus on interventions that reduce uncertainties and conflicting situations from nurses (provide clear job descriptions and effective communication). Social implications By promoting a sense of effectiveness and feelings of self-endorsement at work, health care establishments can reduce nurses’ turnover intention and help prevent staffing shortages among this important work group. Originality/value Although past research shows that workers’ motivational profile can modulate the relationship between characteristics within the work environment and workers’ functioning, studying the quality of work motivation is not sufficient to completely understand the factors that can influence workers’ reactions to job demands. Need satisfaction is crucial to the development and maintenance of high quality motivation. Evaluating need satisfaction as a moderator in the stressor–strain relationship could offer a better understanding of the psychological experiences that can promote workers’ adaptation to their work environment. To date, no study has investigated the buffering role of psychological needs in the stressor–strain relationship.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ángeles López-Cabarcos ◽  
Analía López-Carballeira ◽  
Carlos Ferro-Soto

PurposeThis study analyzes the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion between certain job demands (workload, role conflict, and influence at work) and employees' work attitudes (affective commitment and turnover intention) in public healthcare. Furthermore, it analyzes the moderating effect of possibilities for development and the degree of freedom at work between the above-mentioned job demands and emotional exhaustion.Design/methodology/approachA total of 512 healthcare professionals participated in the study. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis.FindingsThe results show that emotional exhaustion fully mediates the relationship between job demands (workload and role conflict) and work attitudes (affective commitment and turnover intention). Moreover, the possibilities for development and degree of freedom at work moderate the relationship between role conflict and emotional exhaustion.Practical implicationsStrategies should be designed to prevent employees from becoming emotionally exhausted and lead them to feel more motivated, which results in a more effective public healthcare service.Originality/valueThis study stresses the importance of analyzing the role of emotional exhaustion in the public healthcare context. It demonstrates the mediating role of this variable between several antecedents and consequences, and it analyzes whether other relevant variables can moderate the negative effects of emotional exhaustion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 345-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Hagen Olafsen ◽  
Claus Wiemann Frølund

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to test a model that differentiated between two types of job demands in relation to basic psychological need satisfaction, work motivation, and, in turn, employee well-being. In particular, job challenges and job hindrances were hypothesized to relate to this motivational process in different ways. Design/methodology/approach Survey data from a sample of 160 entrepreneurs were used in path analyses to test the hypothesized relations. Findings The results showed that job challenges related positively to autonomy- and competence need satisfaction as well as to autonomous work motivation, while job hindrances related negatively to satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness. Further, satisfaction of the need for autonomy, competence and relatedness related positively to autonomous work motivation. Finally, all of the three basic psychological needs as well as autonomous work motivation related directly and positively to vitality. Originality/value These results support a view on job challenges and job hindrances as distinct within the job demands-resources model by showing how they are differently related to basic psychological needs, autonomous work motivation and, subsequently, worker well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina G. Barker ◽  
Fred Volk ◽  
Clay Peters

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the possibility that culture influences burnout. Characterized by emotional, cognitive and physical exhaustion, burnout stems from chronic, unresolvable stress experienced when resources to meet demands are insufficient or inaccessible. This study investigated whether people in the US experience burnout differently than people in Sweden.Design/methodology/approachThe relationship between demands and burnout was hypothesized to be mediated by perceived stress, role conflict and role ambiguity. Country was hypothesized to moderate these relationships. Data collected through surveys from Swedish and American participants were analyzed using a process macro model.FindingsThe results showed demands as positively related to burnout. This relationship was mediated by perceived stress and the mediation was moderated by country with a stronger effect for Swedes. The relationship between demands and role conflict was significant and moderated by country; however, role conflict did not predict burnout. Role ambiguity was not a significant predictor or mediator. After accounting for covariates and predictors, demands generated unique variance in burnout and country played a moderating role in this direct relationship, which was stronger for Americans than Swedes.Originality/valueThe results suggest that culture may play a role in the burnout process. Although a global issue, between-country differences and cultural influences on burnout have received little attention, even though shared culture governs perceptions, identities, roles, norms and practices associated with known predictors of burnout. By examining burnout cross-culturally, this study adds to the limited literature on burnout processes across different professional contexts.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 496-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Kumar ◽  
Hemang Jauhari

Purpose This paper aims to examine the explanatory roles of organizational justice (OJ) and learning goal/need satisfaction (LGS/LNS) in the relationship between participation in decision-making (PDM) and turnover intention (TI) of employees. OJ was expected to mediate the relationship of PDM with LNS and TI. Further, LNS was expected to mediate the relationship of PDM and OJ with TI. Design/methodology/approach This study used a rigorous design with 192 responses collected with temporal separation using snowball sampling technique. Responses on PDM, OJ and LNS were taken at one point of time, whereas responses on TI were taken at another point of time. Analysis was done using structural equation modeling approach in IBM SPSS AMOS 20. Findings OJ partially mediates PDM and LNS relationship but fully mediates PDM and TI relationship. Further, LNS partially mediates OJ and TI relationship but fully mediates PDM and TI relationship. PDM does not have a direct effect on TI. Research limitations/implications Ensuring participation of employees on programs and policies including those on human resources by itself may not be able to reduce TI of employees. It is when employees are able to experience fairness for themselves and/or they are able to add value for themselves by enhancing relevant knowledge base that PDM has an impact on TI. Therefore, organizations must ensure all three aspects of concern to employees; ensuring participation, fairness and individual growth of the employees to address TI. Originality/value Although there are studies relating TI separately with PDM, fairness and satisfaction, this study is able to contribute by specifying two-stage explanatory mechanism between PDM and TI. In addition, the authors believe that this study has brought in so far unexplored nuance of relevance of individual quest for learning in explaining TI. Further, through the use of robust design, the study contributes in corroborating research findings on TI.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossam M. Abu Elanain

Purpose – Previous studies on leadership quality – staff turnover relationship – have been performed mainly in Western contexts. More empirical evidence is needed to understand the nature of the relationship between the quality of leadership and staff turnover in a non-Western context in general and in the Middle East in particular. Thus, this study has two objectives: to examine the impact of leader-member exchange (LMX) on staff turnover intentions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to test the mediating impact of role conflict, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment on the LMX-turnover intentions relationship. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 241 employees working in 15 different service and industrial product organizations operating in Dubai. A structured questionnaire containing standard scales of LMX, role conflict, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and some demographic variables was used. After testing scales reliability and validity, the proposed hypotheses were tested using a series of separate hierarchical regression analyses. Findings – Consistent with Western studies, the study revealed that LMX played a functional impact on staff turnover intentions. Moreover, role conflict was found to play a partial role in mediating the influence of LMX on turnover intentions. Similarly, job satisfaction and organizational commitment were found to partially mediate the relationship between LMX and turnover intentions. Research limitations/implications – The limitations of common method variance and same source bias are discussed in light of implications for future research. Nevertheless, the results show that leaders need to monitor the quality of exchange between themselves and their followers to ensure high-quality relationships are maintained. Practical implications – The study has implications for reducing staff turnover. In general, enhancing LMX can result in lower level of employee turnover intentions. Also, managers should improve staff job satisfaction and organizational commitment in order to enhance the impact of LMX on reducing turnover intention. In addition, UAE managers should reduce role conflict in order to improve the impact of LMX on turnover intention. Originality/value – Previous studies on leadership quality – staff turnover relationship – have been performed mainly in Western contexts. This study is considered to be the first study to examine the mediating role of role conflict, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment on the relationship between LMX and turnover intentions in the Middle East.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis V. Kloutsiniotis ◽  
Anastasia A. Katou ◽  
Dimitrios M. Mihail

PurposeThe present study follows the conflicting outcomes perspective of Human Resources Management (HRM) and examines the effects of employees' perceptions of high performance work systems (HPWS) on job demands (role conflict, role ambiguity and work pressure) and work engagement (vigor and dedication).Design/methodology/approachStructural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used on a sample of 524 front-line employees across three Greek manufacturing companies.FindingsThe findings show that HPWS is negatively associated with all three job demands. Hence, the “critical perspective” is not supported. In turn, role conflict and role ambiguity reduce employees' work engagement, although the third job demand included in the study (work pressure) showed a positive relationship on dedication. Last but not least, this study calculates HPWS as both a system and as subsets of HRM practices, and provides useful insights regarding the differences between the two different measurement methods.Practical implicationsThe present study brings further empirical evidence in the HRM field by examining whether HPWS is good or bad for employee well-being. Moreover, the findings underscore the detrimental impact that job demands may have on employees' work engagement, and highlights the fact that HPWS might not necessarily be a “win-win” scenario for employees and employers.Originality/valueThis study follows the most recent developments in the HRM literature and examines the dark (negative) approach of HPWS in the Greek manufacturing sector. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are drawn for improving our understanding of how HPWS influences job demands and ultimately employees' work engagement.


Author(s):  
Yuhyung Shin ◽  
Won-Moo Hur ◽  
Kyungdo Park ◽  
Hansol Hwang

Despite the increasing body of research on job crafting, the relationship between managers’ job crafting and their turnover intention, as well as its intermediary mechanisms, has received relatively little attention from researchers. This study examined how managers’ job crafting negatively affected their turnover intention, focusing on role ambiguity and emotional exhaustion as underlying mediators. Data were collected from 235 store managers in South Korean food franchises. All study hypotheses were supported by regression-based path modeling. Controlling for role conflict and role ambiguity, we found a negative relationship between job crafting and role ambiguity, a positive relationship between role ambiguity and emotional exhaustion, and a positive relationship between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. Our mediation analyses further revealed that controlling for role conflict and role overload, role ambiguity and emotional exhaustion partially and sequentially mediated the relationship between managers’ job crafting and their turnover intention. These findings have several implications for theory and practice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Munoz ◽  
Michael Mallin

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between salesperson role perceptions and use of neutralization techniques, given the relationship orientation of the salesperson. Direct relationships between salesperson role conflict, role ambiguity, role task self-efficacy and a salesperson’s propensity to use neutralizations to attribute their unethical selling behavior are tested. The moderating effects of role-relationship orientation on the aforementioned relationships are also explored Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 163 (cross-industry, B2B/B2C non-retail) salespeople. Results were analyzed and seven hypotheses were tested using SmartPLS to estimate and evaluate a (partial least squares) structural model. Findings The study findings conclude that role ambiguity, role task self-efficacy and role relationship orientation directly impact a salesperson’s tendency to use neutralization techniques to justify unethical sales behavior. Role relationship orientation serves to moderate the relationship between role conflict and neutralization use. Research limitations/implications This research integrates attribution and role theories to isolate the conditions where salespeople are prone to use neutralization techniques to justify their unethical behavior. Salesperson role relationship orientation is explored to understand the moderating effects on the salesperson role–neutralization relationships. Practical implications Sales managers are provided guidance (e.g. training and coaching) to help salespeople navigate feelings of negative role perceptions (role conflict, role ambiguity, role self-efficacy) to minimize the impact on justification of unethical sales behaviors. Originality/value This research builds on the sales and ethics literatures by incorporating role and attribution theory to better understand how salespeople approach dealing with their own unethical behavior and the implications on maintaining relationships with their customers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 909-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Wu ◽  
An-Jin Shie ◽  
David Gordon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the frontline employees’ emotional labour can illustrate the relationship between customer orientation (CO) and turnover intention in the hospitality industry. The study applies the job demands and resources (JD-R) theory to explain the relationship between variables in the proposed model. Design/methodology/approach The paper surveys a sample of 378 frontline employees in the hospitality industry. Findings The findings of this study show that the CO is strongly and positively associated with turnover intention. The three dimensions of emotional labour are all partially mediated with the relationship between CO and turnover intention. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study include the sample came from seven five-star hotels in Beijing, China. This study used perceptual self-reported measures, which may generate exaggerated relationships among variables. These issues are addressed in the analysis. Practical implications First, the recruitment and selection of frontline employees should incorporate an assessment of the level of CO. Second, hospitality management should train employees in the proper control of emotional labour. Social implications Hospitality should make efforts to supply job resources, such as providing delicious food; more promotion opportunities; better training and recreation programs; more clarified job definitions; and position autonomy. Moreover, good interpersonal relationships, regular recreational activities and sharing working experiences with colleagues may be applied to cope with job demands. Originality/value This study is to explain the roles of the three dimensions of emotional labour (surface acting, genuine emotion and deep acting) in the relationship between CO and turnover intention. More specifically, this study demonstrates why hospitality employees with high (or low) CO have low (or high) levels of turnover intention applying the concept of emotional labour based on JD-R theory.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bård Kuvaas ◽  
Robert Buch

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether leader self-efficacy and leader role ambiguity are related to follower leader-member exchange (LMX). In addition, the authors examine whether the relationship between follower LMX and turnover intention will be mediated by need satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using an electronic survey tool filled out by 109 leaders and 696 followers. Findings Leader role ambiguity was positively related to an economic LMX relationship and negatively related to a social LMX relationship. Furthermore, the links between social and economic LMX relationships and turnover intention were mediated by satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and relatedness. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of the study is the cross-sectional nature of the data from the followers. Practical implications Provided that the findings are generalizable organizations should provide role clarification initiatives to leaders with high role ambiguity. Originality/value Despite the centrality of role theory in the development of LMX theory, prior research has not investigated whether the extent to which leaders perceive that they meet the expectations of their leadership roles affects followers’ perception of LMX relationships.


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