Supervisory Communication, Burnout, and Turnover Intention Among Social Workers in Health Care Settings

Abstract

The current study tests the effects of different types of supervisory communication on burnout and turnover intention among health social workers. The study proposed a conceptual model of supervisory communication and tested it empirically using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques with a random sample of 211 California state-registered social workers working in health or mental health care settings. The results of the present study provide empirical evidence of the unique roles that different types of supervisory communication play as antecedents of burnout and turnover intention. Specifically, supportive relationship communication had an indirect effect on burnout and turnover intention through its effect on perceived stress, whereas job-relevant communication had not only an indirect effect on burnout and turnover intention through its effect on stress, but also a direct effect on turnover intention. In addition, the results showed that upward communication moderated the relationship between stress and burnout. Implications for social work administration and possible elaboration of the theoretical framework are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• supervisory communication
• burnout
• turnover intention
• social workers in health care

This research was supported in part by a research award from the Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services and by an Albert and Frances Feldman Endowed Fellowship from the USC School of Social Work.