Emotional Exhaustion and Turnover Intention among Healthcare Professionals: Mediating Role of Perceived Organizational Support

Abstract

Healthcare professionals frequently operate in highly demanding environments characterized by emotional strain, heavy workloads, and continuous interaction with patients in critical conditions. Such conditions often result in emotional exhaustion, which may significantly influence employees’ intention to leave their organization. The present study examines the relationship between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention among healthcare professionals and investigates the mediating role of perceived organizational support. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected from 286 healthcare professionals working in public and private hospitals in Northern India through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. The findings reveal that emotional exhaustion has a significant positive impact on turnover intention and a significant negative impact on perceived organizational support. Perceived organizational support partially mediates the relationship between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. The study highlights the importance of organizational support in reducing emotional strain and improving employee retention. The findings provide important theoretical and managerial implications for healthcare administrators seeking to create supportive work environments that enhance employee well-being and organizational effectiveness.