Enjian Wang

Background: Few studies have examined intrinsic motivation that is related to turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes in China.Objectives: This study aims at investigating the relationship between intrinsic motivation and turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes in China by analyzing the mediating roles of job burnout and pay satisfaction.Methods: Based on multistage stratified random sampling, a total of 1212 geriatric nurses was investigated by a questionnaire in China. Structural equation models were employed to test the hypotheses.Results: Intrinsic motivation was negatively related to turnover intention (β = −0.063), and job burnout (β = −0.072) and pay satisfaction (β = −0.014) played significant mediating roles in the relationship between intrinsic motivation and turnover intention.Conclusions: Findings revealed that intrinsic motivation, pay satisfaction and job burnout were strong predicators of turnover intention. The results may provide implications to lessen turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes.

Social workers are experiencing limited job autonomy, especially in China, which has been perceived as a key predictor of turnover intention. However, no research exists about the relationship between job autonomy and turnover intention among social workers in China. This study aims to investigate the relationship between job autonomy and turnover intention mediated by work-to-family enrichment (WFE) and job satisfaction, as well as moderated by the type of sector (public sector and private sector). Based on a sample of 829 participants using SEM, the results indicate that job autonomy per se is not directly related to turnover intention; rather, it is indirectly related to turnover intention mediated through job satisfaction. Furthermore, the mediating role of WFE and the moderating role of the type of sector in the relationship between job autonomy and turnover intention were not identified. Future studies could establish a longitudinal design to make a causal inference between job autonomy and turnover intention and introduce other mediating and moderating variables to further test the relationship. It is also important to examine antecedents of limited job autonomy of social workers and their relevant coping measures.

Abstract The turnover rate of social workers is extremely high and the predictive roles of professional identity and job burnout on turnover intention have not been explored in China. The study examined the relationship between professional identity and turnover intention, mediated by job burnout and moderated by a social work degree, amongst social workers in China. Based on a sample of 829 participants and the structural equation model method, the findings confirmed that professional identity per se was not related to turnover intention, and a mediating role of job burnout and a moderating role of a social work degree were identified.

Abstract Low pay and the absence of professional identity (PI) are often blamed as major antecedents related to the turnover of social workers in China, yet no study has provided any consideration of the two antecedents together in predicting the turnover intention (TI) of social workers and comparing them, which acts as a more powerful predictor. Based on a sample of 819 participants and by using structural equation models, the current study indicated whether pay satisfaction (PS) or PI could predict TI; the results show that PS plays a stronger role. The findings identified the mediating role of PI in the relationship between PS and TI, but the moderating role of the type of sector (TS) was not supported. The findings suggest that it is necessary to advocate for adequate pay for social workers all over the world. Additionally, PI should be a top priority in social work education, training, exams and practice. Meanwhile, the government should strengthen the purchase of social work services, and a greater proportion of purchase money should be used to pay social workers. Furthermore, the government could offer subsidies for social workers employed in the private sector, similar to those employed in the public sector.

Shidu parents (parents who lost their only child) experience poor mental health, and social support is expected to alleviate mental stress and facilitate mental adaptation of bereaved parents. However, the literatures on the effects of social support on mental health of bereaved parents have yield mixed outcomes, and the relationship between social support and mental health among Shidu parents has been unexplored in China. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and mental health among Shidu parents in China. Multistage stratified random sampling was conducted to collect data in 2017, and a total of 1,750 Shidu parents were employed as the analytical sample. The Ordinary Least Squares Model and Instrumental Variables (IV) Method were both employed. The variable of community services for the aged provided by the market was employed as the IV of the study considering death taboo inveterately rooted in philosophies and religions in Chinese culture. The results indicated that there was a positive relationship between social support and mental health among Shidu parents, specifically, objective social support and social support utilisation were significantly related to mental health of Shidu parents, while subjective social support was not. Implications of the study include the following: First, it is crucial to help spouse and friends gain appropriate social support skills. Mutual associations can be an important source of social support. Second, objective social support should be given a top priority, and suitable amount, timing, source and structure of social support should be paid more attention to strengthen the 'goodness of fit' between the needs of Shidu parents and support provided. Third, some other social services such as community care, social work services and professional consulting services can be appropriate alternatives to alleviate mental stress of Shidu parents.