Transformational Leadership and Turnover Intention in Child Welfare: A Serial Mediation Model

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study examined a serial mediation model testing the effects of STS on turnover intention through executive leaders’ use of transformational leadership as perceived by child welfare workers and then organizational commitment while controlling for age, gender, and social work degrees.

Method

Survey data were collected from 264 child welfare workers at one Midwestern state.

Results

The results supported the serial mediation model, corroborated by the finding that the impact of STS on turnover intention has disappeared as a result of transformational leadership and organizational commitment between the two variables.

Discussion

The findings of the study provide practical implications for training transformational leadership styles to leaders training at the middle manager and executive leadership levels in child welfare agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• Transformational leadership
• secondary traumatic stress
• child welfare worker turnover
• organizational commitment

Disclosure statement

We have no conflicts of interests to disclose.