Assessing longitudinal change of and dynamic relationships among role stressors, job attitudes, turnover intention, and well‐being in neophyte newcomers

Abstract

AbstractUsing a latent growth modeling (LGM) approach, this paper examines the trajectories of change in role stressors (ambiguity, conflict, and overload), job attitudes (affective commitment and job satisfaction), and turnover intention and psychological well‐being among neophyte newcomers, as well as the relationships among these changes. Based on a sample of 170 university alumni surveyed three times during the first months of employment, we found that role conflict and role overload increased, affective commitment and job satisfaction declined, and turnover intention increased over the course of the study. Role ambiguity and well‐being did not change. The initial levels of affective commitment, job satisfaction, and well‐being were positively related to the increase in role overload, while the initial level of turnover intention was related to a reduced increase in role overload over time. We also found that the increase in role overload and role conflict was associated with a decline in affective commitment and job satisfaction, respectively, and that the decrease in affective commitment and satisfaction was related to an increase in turnover intention. We discuss the implications of these findings. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.