The Impact of Quiet Quitting on Turnover Intentions in the Era of Digital Transformation: The Mediating Roles of Job Satisfaction and Affective Commitment, and the Moderating Role of Psychological Safety

This study examines the impact of “quiet quitting” during digital transformation on job satisfaction, affective commitment, and turnover intention. A time-lagged survey was conducted over six months with two waves of data collection from full-time employees in South Korea, resulting in 258 valid responses. Using the PROCESS macro for analysis, the findings reveal that quiet quitting significantly reduces job satisfaction and affective commitment, which, in turn, increases turnover intention. Furthermore, psychological safety serves as a critical moderator, buffering the negative effects of quiet quitting on these outcomes. The study confirms that the influence of quiet quitting on turnover intention operates through the mediating roles of job satisfaction and affective commitment, and organizations with higher psychological safety are better equipped to mitigate these adverse effects. Grounded in Withdrawal Progression Theory, this study empirically demonstrates the progression of quiet quitting into turnover intention and provides strategic insights for organizations to prevent employee turnover and maintain employee engagement during digital transformation.