The Effect of Work Community on Job Transfer Intention: The Mediation Effect of Regulatory Failure and Job Burnout

Abstract

This study examined the effect of work community fit on job transfer intention and the indirect effect through regulatory failure and job burnout. A total of 351 teachers from public primary schools in the three southern provinces of Thailand were randomly selected. The self-report questionnaire was a data collection instrument. The partial least square structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. The results revealed the complementary mediation effect. Community directly affects job transfer intention and indirectly through regulatory failure and job burnout in a serial manner. Promotion failure causes a lower risk of job burnout because of the failure of the maximal goal which represents the hopes and inspiration that one wants to achieve, whereas prevention failure concerns the minimal goal which represents responsibilities and obligations that must be met resulting in a higher risk of emotional exhaustion. In addition, promotion failure involves the absence of positive outcomes that increases the likelihood of disengagement and seek for an alternative that fulfills hopes and aspirations, whereas prevention failure relates to the presence of negative outcomes which motivate one to strengthen responsibilities and obligations to avoid the further loss resulting in low disengagement. The finding provides a better understanding of the underlying psychological mechanism between the regulatory focus and work well-being.