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The Impact of Job Stress, Role Ambiguity and Work–Life Imbalance on Turnover Intention during COVID-19: A Case Study of Frontline Health Workers in Saudi Arabia

Author

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  • Mohammed Alblihed

    (Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia)

  • Haitham Ali Alzghaibi

    (Department of Health Informatics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukayriyah 52741, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to examine the impact of job stress, role ambiguity, work–life imbalance and burnout on employee turnover intention. Moreover, the mediating role of burnout between job stress, role ambiguity, work–life imbalance and turnover intention is also examined. The data collection for this quantitative research was conducted through the “Questionnaire” technique. The questionnaire was developed based on previously established questions available in the literature. The data were collected using simple random sampling from the healthcare workers of KSA. From the distributed questionnaire, 73.5% of the usable questionnaires were returned. This study used SPSS and PLS for the analysis of the data to highlight the most significant variables that impact the employees’ turnover intentions among KSA health workers. The findings show that job burnout is clearly related to turnover intentions and is positively affected by both role stress and role ambiguity. Moreover, a statistically positive association is found between work–life imbalance and burnout among the healthcare workers in KSA. Furthermore, the mediating role of burnout is also confirmed in this study. The study also indicates that role ambiguity and role stress due to COVID-19 may create burnout among employees, which may lead to turnover intention among healthcare workers. There is a lack of research on the assessment of the impact of the novel COVID-19-related job stress, role ambiguity and work–life imbalance on the medical staff’s turnover intentions in hospitals. This study fills the gap of the limited studies conducted regarding the identification of the factors that can create turnover intention among healthcare workers of KSA by providing empirical evidence from a Gulf country, Saudi Arabia. This study provides managerial implications for hospital management and health policymakers to develop a strategy to retain the employees. Furthermore, healthcare administrators need to pay close attention to front line workers’ turnover intentions as these medical heroes are the vital part of our society who assist patients to receive their initial treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammed Alblihed & Haitham Ali Alzghaibi, 2022. "The Impact of Job Stress, Role Ambiguity and Work–Life Imbalance on Turnover Intention during COVID-19: A Case Study of Frontline Health Workers in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13132-:d:940303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jiing-Lih Farh & Anne S. Tsui & Katherine Xin & Bor-Shiuan Cheng, 1998. "The Influence of Relational Demography and Guanxi: The Chinese Case," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(4), pages 471-488, August.
    2. Yingfei Zhang & Zheng Feei Ma, 2020. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Quality of Life among Local Residents in Liaoning Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Darcy, Colette & McCarthy, Alma & Hill, Jimmy & Grady, Geraldine, 2012. "Work–life balance: One size fits all? An exploratory analysis of the differential effects of career stage," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 111-120.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hamid Reza Saberi & Amir Hossein Khoshakhlagh & Fereydoon Laal & Marziyeh Mirzahosseininejad & Mitra Hannani & Umesh Bamel, 2023. "Investigating the Reasons for Turnover Intention of Workers in the Spinning and Weaving Industries in Iran," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(4), pages 320-331, November.
    2. Lucía Sanchis-Giménez & Alicia Tamarit & Vicente Javier Prado-Gascó & Laura Sánchez-Pujalte & Luis Díaz-Rodríguez, 2024. "Psychosocial Risks in Non-University Teachers: A Comparative Study between Spain and Mexico on Their Occupational Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Laura Zambrano-Chumo & Ruben Guevara, 2024. "Psychological Capital and Turnover Intention: The Mediating Role of Burnout among Healthcare Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Hazem Ali & Min Li & Xunmin Qiu, 2024. "Examination of HRM practices in relation to the retention of Chinese Gen Z employees," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.

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