Place attachment, intent to relocate and intent to quit: The moderating role of occupational commitment

This article examines the influence of place attachment on intent to quit via intent to relocate and the moderating effect of occupational commitment. Findings from both cross-sectional (N = 4629) and two-wave (N = 110) data indicate that (1) place attachment is negatively associated with intent to relocate and intent to quit; (2) intent to relocate partially mediates the relationship between place attachment and intent to quit; and (3) occupational commitment moderates the relationship between intent to relocate and intent to quit and the strength of the indirect effect of place attachment on intent to quit via intent to relocate. Results underscore the importance of accounting for employees' emotional bonds with places when understanding and predicting employee turnover. Implications and directions for future research are also discussed.