Examining the mediating and moderating effects of engagement and conscientiousness for the job characteristics and intention to quit relationship

Abstract

Building on the job demands-resources, social exchange, and conservation of resources theories, the present study tests the relationship between job characteristics and intention to quit via work engagement as a mediator, and conscientiousness as a moderator. Based on data collected from a sample of Indian managers (N = 1302), we found that work engagement mediated the relationship between job characteristics and intention to quit. Moreover, personality trait of conscientiousness qualified job characteristics-intention to quit and work engagement-intention to quit relationships such that the negative effects of JC and work engagement on intention to quit were stronger for high conscientiousness than low. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.