Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2025 Feb;34(1):23-31. 10.5807/kjohn.2025.34.1.23.

Effect of Job Stress on Turnover Intention among General Hospital Nurses: The Mediating Effect of Burnout and the Moderating Effect of Job Satisfaction

• Lee EJ

• KMID: 2571140
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2025.34.1.23

Abstract

Purpose
Burnout and job satisfaction are key factors influencing the turnover intention of general hospital nurses. This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of burnout and moderating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between job stress and turnover intention among general hospital nurses.
Methods
Participants were 201 nurses working at general hospitals in Changwon city, Republic of Korea. Data on turnover intention, job stress, burnout, and job satisfaction were collected between November 20 and to December 5, 2024. SPSS/WIN 23.0 and Process Macro 3.5 were employed to analyze the mediating and moderating effects.
Results
Mean scores were as follows: Turnover intention (3.31±0.65), job stress (3.52±0.67), burnout (2.80±0.58), and job satisfaction (3.10±0.57). Job stress had a positive impact on turnover intention among hospital nurses (B=.42, p<.001), and the relationship between job stress and turnover intention was mediated by burnout (B=.14, 95% CI [0.07, 0.22]). Additionally, the positive influence of job stress on turnover intention was negatively moderated by job satisfaction.
Conclusion
The significance of this study lies in its verification of the mechanism by which job stress influences turnover intentions among hospital nurses. Additionally, this study suggests that it is necessary to pay attention to job stress, burnout, and job satisfaction among hospital nurses to reduce turnover intentions.

Keyword

Personnel turnover; Occupational stress; Burnout; Job satisfaction; Nurses