Intrinsic motivation and turnover intention among geriatric nurses employed in nursing homes: the roles of job burnout and pay satisfaction

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 (beta = -0.063), and job burnout (beta = -0.072) and pay satisfaction (beta = -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.