Turnover intention through the lens of transformational leadership and job satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this research is twofold. First, it is to examine the relationship between Transformational Leadership (with its components) of nurse managers, Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention of registered nurses in the North Lebanon region while controlling for demographic factors. Second, this study also sheds the light on job satisfaction as a mediator between Transformational Leadership and Turnover Intention. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study at hand is descriptive-explanatory that portrays the current situation while trying to explain relationships between variables. A quantitative approach, using statistical analysis of survey data is adopted for testing the hypotheses. The sample targeted by the questionnaire is registered nurses working in hospitals of North Lebanon area. The number of respondents is 141. The sample is composed of male and female respondents with different ages, levels of experience, education, income… Findings: The results support the existence of a negative effect of Transformational Leadership with its components (Idealized Influence and Individual Consideration on Turnover Intention among nurses. Transformational Leadership is found to have a positive effect on Job satisfaction which in turn decreases Turnover Intention. Moreover, the mediation role played by Job satisfaction on the relation between Transformational Leadership and Turnover Intention is supported. Also discussion about the hypotheses, control variables and implications along with recommendation for future research are provided. Originality/Value: This study moves the lens from general exploration of factors leading to nursing Turnover to focus more on the special impact exhibited by Transformational Leadership behavior with regard to its components as well. Moreover, this study elaborates on the mediation of this relationship by Job satisfaction. While other researchers have undertaken this topic from a broader perspective, this convergent study narrows the analysis into a more specific model. Limited studies of this nature have been carried out in the nursing field and especially in Lebanon.