The effect of work stress on turnover intention amongst family doctors: A conditional process analysis

Objective To explore describe the mechanism between work stress, job satisfaction, perceived organizational support and turnover intention amongst family doctors in China, and to provide reference for improving the brain drain of family doctors. Method Using convenience sampling, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 2358 family doctors in 13 provinces in eastern, central and western China. Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to explore the effects of job stress, job satisfaction and perceived organizational support on family doctors' turnover intention. Results Family doctors' work stress was positively correlated with turnover intention (β = 0.631, p＜0.001), job satisfaction played a partial mediating role in the influence path of work stress on turnover intention (β = 0.9175, p＜0.001), perceived organizational support played a moderating role in the relationship between work stress, job satisfaction, and turnover intention (β = 0.124, p＜0.05; β = −0.022, p＜0.05). Conclusion Hospital managers should take corresponding measures to reduce the work stress of family doctors, improve their job satisfaction, and provide more support and attention to family doctors to ensure the stable development of family doctors in China. Highlights Family doctors' work stress had a significant positive effect on turnover intention. Family doctors' job satisfaction played a mediating role in the relationship between work stress and turnover intention. Family doctors' perceived organizational support moderated the relationship between work stress and job satisfaction. Family doctors' perceived organizational support played a moderating role in the relationship between work stress and turnover intention.