Work

The impact of workload and emotional demands on turnover intentions: the mediating and moderating effects of job burnout

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Although workload and emotional demands are recognized as key antecedents of job burnout, research focusing on preschool teachers has rarely compared their relative effects or explored whether burnout may function simultaneously as a mediator and a moderator. Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) and Conservation of Resources (COR) frameworks, this study examines how these job demands influence preschool teachers' turnover intention through job burnout, and whether burnout amplifies these associations. Methods: A two-stage survey was administered to 200 preschool teachers in Taiwan. Measures included workload, emotional demands, job burnout, and turnover intention. Data were analyzed using mediation and moderation analysis. Results: Workload and emotional demands both significantly and positively predicted turnover intention through job burnout. Moreover, job burnout moderated the effect of workload on turnover intention, with the relationship becoming stronger at higher burnout levels. Discussion: These findings underscore the dual role of job burnout and highlight the need for early childhood education administrators to reduce job demands, implement burnout prevention strategies, and stabilize the preschool teaching workforce.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1699421

Authors: Wen-Yu Hung, I-Hsiung Chang, Yueh-Chih Hsiao

Institutions: National Taipei University of Technology, Fooyin University, National Taiwan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Stress and Burnout Research

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801