Anxiety, job satisfaction, supervisor support and turnover intentions of mid-career nurses: A structural equation model analysis

J Nurs Manag. 2021 Jul;29(5):931-942. doi: 10.1111/jonm.13229. Epub 2021 Jan 4.

Abstract

Aims: To explore the effects of four predictors of anxiety (work constraints, work/family conflict, verbal abuse and negative team orientation) among nurses and their subsequent effects on job satisfaction and turnover intentions; and to examine the moderating effect of supervisor support on the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions.

Background: Work-related anxiety is a well-known predictor of employee burnout. Research suggests the prevalence of stress in the workplace varies by occupation, with stress among nurses one of the highest.

Methods: We employed data from the 2015 national survey of licensed registered nurses (n=1,080). We assessed the conceptual model using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Results: Work constraints, work/family conflict, and negative team orientation lead to anxiety, which diminished job satisfaction and ultimately increased turnover intentions. Supervisor support weakened the job dissatisfaction-turnover relationship.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the common experiences reported by health care professionals lead to anxiety and ultimately turnover intentions and emphasize the role of supervisor support.

Implications for nursing management: The supervisor's role is crucial to the implications of workplace-generated anxiety for nurse job satisfaction and turnover intentions. As such, nurse managers need to develop tangible strategies to help nurses navigate these contextual constraints.

Keywords: anxiety; nursing; supervisor support; team orientation; verbal abuse; work/family conflict.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Nurses*
  • Occupations
  • Personnel Turnover
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace