The Mediating Role of Work Stress in the Effect of Excessive Workload on Intention to Leave

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine whether work stress has a mediating role in the effect of work overload on intention to leave. Correlations between variables were tested using analyses performed within the sample comprising 223 participants working in grocery store chains in Ordu city center and Fatsa district. In this context, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to determine the scale validity and Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to test the research hypotheses. As a result of the analyses performed, the findings demonstrated that work overload has a significant and positive effect on intention to leave and work stress, and work stress has a significant and positive effect on intention to leave. The research findings also revealed that work stress has a partial mediating role on the effect of excessive workload on intention to leave. The aforementioned results were interpreted as employees experience work-related anxiety and stress when they have a workload that exceeds their physical and mental capacity, and as a result, they think of leaving their jobs as an option to avoid adversity.