The impact of psychological capital on turnover intention among Chinese nurses: A moderated mediation model

Aims This study examined how the mediating effect of psychological distress and the moderating role of social support influence the connection between psychological capital and turnover intention among Chinese nurses. Background Nurses play a crucial role in medical and health services, but turnover intentions are common among them. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 4865 nurses in China. The Chinese Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and Turnover Intention Scale were used to gather data. Bootstrap and simple slope methods were used to test the mediating effect of psychological distress and the moderating effect of social support. Results Psychological capital had a significant direct impact on turnover intention among nurses (B = -0.040, t = -10.032, p < .001). Psychological distress had a mediation effect of 46.89% between psychological capital and turnover intention. Moreover, social support had a moderating role in the relationship between psychological distress and psychological capital and between psychological distress and turnover intention. Conclusions Psychological capital correlated negatively with psychological distress and turnover intention and indirectly influenced turnover intention through psychological distress. Social support moderated the first and second half of the path in the mediating model of psychological distress. These findings have implications for early intervention for and the prevention of turnover intention in nurses. Implications for Nursing Management This study's findings can inform the design of effective nurse support programmes to reduce the impact of psychological distress on turnover intention among nurses.