Rejection sensitivity and turnover intention during COVID-19: The moderating effect of extraversion

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has largely disrupted the life of sojourners. This study investigates factors that affect sojourners’ turnover intention during the pandemic. We hypothesize a positive relationship between sojourners’ intercultural rejection sensitivity and their turnover intention. Meanwhile, deeply rooted in the trait activation theory, we hypothesize that extraversion strengthens this relationship. Using two-wave data and a sample of sojourners working/studying at a southeastern U.S. university, we found that intercultural rejection sensitivity positively relates to sojourners’ turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, extraversion moderates this relationship, such that the positive relationship between intercultural rejection sensitivity and turnover intention is stronger when extraversion is high. These findings extend our understanding of sojourners’ turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic.