A Triad Relationship among Stress, Turnover Intention, and Performance: A Mediation Perspective

Abstract

Background The Indian education sector is experiencing rapid growth, with the emergence of private universities alongside public institutions. Within this context, organizational behavior factors like stress, turnover intention, and performance play critical roles in shaping the efficiency of academic faculty. Purpose This study aims to investigate the interplay among stress, turnover intention, and performance in the context of academic faculty in private universities in Punjab, India. Identifying gaps in existing literature, the study formulates hypotheses to explore the mediating effect of turnover intention on the relationship between stress and performance. Methodology A sample of 364 assistant professors from a private university in Punjab, India, was selected using a two-stage process involving simple random and convenience sampling methods. The study employed three standardized scales to measure stress, turnover intention, and performance among the participants. Results The study reveals that when academic faculty experiences stress, it often leads to them considering leaving their positions. Surprisingly, this intention to leave influences their performance. This shows how intricate the interactions among stress, intentions to leave, and performance can be within educational organizations. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of their significance for organizational management in private universities. Moreover, the study offers suggestions for addressing issues related to stress and turnover intention to enhance faculty performance. Conclusion This research contributes to the literature by empirically examining the mediation effect of turnover intention on the relationship between stress and performance within a specific context of academic faculty in private universities in Punjab, India. By filling gaps in existing research, the study offers valuable insights into understanding and managing organizational behavior dynamics in the education sector.