A study of job stress and turnover tendency among air traffic controllers: The mediating effects of job satisfaction

In recent years, due to the rapid growth rate of Taiwanese aviation traffic volume and the air traffic controllers’ (ATCs) unique job characteristics (ATCs is a profession job that involves heavy stress), leading to a shortage of ATCs. The paper offers an empirical study about the sources of pressure that make ATCs in Taiwan want to leave their jobs. Besides, another contribution of this study is to explore the relationships between turnover tendencies and two important factors, job stress and job satisfaction, among Taiwanese ATCs. We apply a path technique to analyze the proposed relationship model. The empirical results show that job satisfaction has a mediating effect on the relationships between the sources of job stress and turnover tendency. Additionally, the workload of job stressors had the most effect on turnover tendency, followed by family factors and job satisfaction. Work environment and role conflict were found to have indirect rather than direct effects on turnover tendency as mediated by job satisfaction. The results can provide valuable insights into the management of ATCs.

► A path technique is used to study the relationships between job stress and turnover among air traffic controllers.
► Job satisfaction played a significant mediating role on job stress and turnover.
► Workload and family factors had both direct and indirect effects on turnover.