Stressful Work and Turnover: The Mediating Role of Psychological Strain

The subject of employee turnover continues to attract global research attention (Hom, Mitchell, Lee, & Griffeth, 2012). The job demands-control-support model (JDC(S); Karasek & Theorell, 1990) is a conceptual model that can be used to examine the stress-strain-turnover process. To date, however, only one study has examined this process (De Croon, Blonk, Broersen, & Frings-Dresen, 2004). Because there are several theoretical and methodological issues apparent with this study, the present study represents a revised and extended version of De Croon et al. (2004). A sample of 443 employees of a large national insurance company answered a survey at two six-month time periods, measuring actual voluntary turnover six months later. Although the correlation matrix supported the hypothesized bivariate relationships, a structural equation model showed poor fit to the data, and the reversal of two relationships in the model. Believing this was due to multicollinearity, I examined a revised model which better fit the data, and supported all nine hypotheses. Furthermore, psychological strain in the form of job dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion fully mediated the relationship between stress (demands, control, and support), and voluntary turnover. Research and managerial implications are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

Grantor dc:publisher

Ohio University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Fila, Marcus J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Griffeth, Rodger

• Business Costs
• Business Administration
• Psychology
• Organization Theory
• Organizational Behavior
• work stress
• psychological strain
• turnover
• demands
• control
• support
• job satisfaction
• emotional exhaustion

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1365589850

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ohiou1365589850