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Predicting Turnover: The Moderating Effect of Functional Climates on Emotional Exhaustion and Work Attitudes

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Abstract

High levels of emotional exhaustion are frequently reported among clinicians working in community mental health settings. This study draws on social exchange theory and examines the relationships between emotional exhaustion and mental health provider work attitudes and turnover, and the moderating effect of functional psychological climates. Data were analyzed using multilevel structural equation modeling in a sample of 311 mental health providers from 49 community mental health programs. Results revealed that emotional exhaustion was negatively related to work attitudes, and the relationship was moderated by functional climates characterized by high levels of cooperation, growth and advancement opportunities, and role clarity. Specifically, the relationship between emotional exhaustion and work attitudes was attenuated for providers working in programs with a more functional psychological climate. Lower work attitudes significantly predicted higher clinician turnover. Results are discussed as they relate to improving climates and enhancing mental health provider and organizational well-being.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grants R01MH072961 and K01MH001695 (PI: Aarons) and National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant R01DA038466 (PI: Aarons). We thank the organizations, supervisors, and service providers that participated in the study and made this work possible. Each author has contributed significantly to the work and agrees to the submission of this manuscript for publication. None of the authors involved with the writing of this manuscript have a relevant conflict of interest that warrants disclosure at this time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, USA

    Christopher R. Dishop, Amy E. Green, Elise Torres & Gregory A. Aarons

  2. Department of Organizational Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

    Christopher R. Dishop

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive (0812), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0812, USA

    Amy E. Green & Gregory A. Aarons

  4. Department of Industrial/Organizational Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA

    Elise Torres

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  1. Christopher R. Dishop
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Correspondence to Gregory A. Aarons.

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Dishop, C.R., Green, A.E., Torres, E. et al. Predicting Turnover: The Moderating Effect of Functional Climates on Emotional Exhaustion and Work Attitudes. Community Ment Health J 55, 733–741 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00407-7

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