Workplace support, job autonomy, and turnover intention among child welfare workers in China: The mediating role of job satisfaction

Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of job satisfaction in the associations among workplace support, job autonomy, and turnover intention among child welfare workers in China. The differential effects of several sources of workplace support (coworkers, supervisors, and organization leaders) on worker turnover intention were also examined. Using data drawn from the Chinese Social Work Longitudinal survey 2019, a series of path analyses were conducted. The results indicated that job satisfaction partially mediated the effects of workplace support and job autonomy on turnover intention. When the effects of workplace support from different sources were examined, the mediating effect of job satisfaction was significant only for the association between support from organization leaders and turnover intention. Greater workplace support from organization leaders and supervisors directly predicted lower turnover intention, while workplace support from coworkers was not significantly associated with turnover intention. The findings suggest that policies and programs that promote workplace support from organization leaders and supervisors and enhance job autonomy and satisfaction may be critical to address high turnover rates among child welfare workers.