Job Satisfaction Bridges Contract Violation and Turnover Intention

Authors

  • Risma Ayu Priyatmika Universitas Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa, Indonesia
  • Ignatius Soni Kurniawan Universitas Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa, Indonesia
  • Nala Tri Kusuma Universitas Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.5.6.2025.831

Keywords:

Job Satisfaction, Psychological Contract Violation, Public Sector, Turnover Intention

Abstract

Employee retention is a critical challenge in public sector organizations, where unmet expectations and organizational misalignments can influence workforce stability. Psychological contract violations, perceived breaches of unwritten organizational promises, have been linked to decreased job satisfaction and increased turnover intentions. However, limited empirical studies examine the mediating role of job satisfaction in this relationship within public institutions. This study aims to investigate how psychological contract violation affects turnover intention and whether job satisfaction mediates this effect. Quantitative research was conducted using a survey of 70 employees, with data analyzed through Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS. Results indicate that psychological contract violations significantly reduce job satisfaction and increase turnover intentions. Job satisfaction negatively affects turnover intentions and partially mediates the relationship between contract violation and intention to leave. These findings highlight the importance of aligning organizational promises with employee expectations. Implications suggest that public institutions should enhance communication, implement clear policies, and provide career development opportunities to strengthen employee satisfaction and retention.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akca, C. (2024). The mediating role of continuance commitment in the effect of psychological contract breach on turnover intention. Business and Economics Research Journal, 15(4), 405–418.

Amoah, V. S., Annor, F., & Asumeng, M. (2021). Psychological contract breach and teachers’ organizational commitment: mediating roles of job embeddedness and leader–member exchange. Journal of Educational Administration, 59(5), 634–649.

Anderson, S. E., Coffey, B. S., & Byerly, R. T. (2002). Formal organizational initiatives and informal workplace practices: Links to work–family conflict and job–related outcomes. Journal of Management, 28(6), 787–810.

Artha, G. N., & Nuvriasari, A. (2025). Analyzing turnover intention at PT Surya Karya Setiabudi: The effects of job insecurity, organizational support, and workload. Economic and Business Horizon, 4(3), 501–512.

Azeem, M. U., Bajwa, S. U., Shahzad, K., & Aslam, H. (2020). Psychological contract violation and turnover intention: The role of job dissatisfaction and work disengagement. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 42(6), 1291–1308.

Chen, X., Al Mamun, A., Hussain, W. M. H. W., Jingzu, G., Yang, Q., & Al Shami, S. S. A. (2023). Envisaging the job satisfaction and turnover intention among the young workforce: Evidence from an emerging economy. PLoS ONE, 18(6), 1–21.

Damara, G., & Rahardjo, M. (2024). Job satisfaction sebagai mediasi terhadap pengaruh flexible work arrangements dan organizational justice dengan turnover intention karyawan. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis Dan Kewirausahaan, 8(1), 1–15.

Dayanti, A. A., & Nurchayati, N. (2023). Exploring the influence of transformational leadership style and motivation on employee performance. Research Horizon, 3(4), 467–476.

De Clercq, D. (2025). Psychological contract breaches, plans to quit, and destructive voice behavior: Catalytic effects of proactive personality. European Management Journal, 43(3), 481–491.

Dzikri, M., Tobari, T., Hustia, A., Nemanja, K., Maria, V. C., Mohamed, M. M. A., ..., & Ha, N. V. (2024). Enhancing employee performance through leadership, loyalty, and job satisfaction: A study at PT XYZ Palembang, Indonesia. International Journal of Management Science, 2(2), 71–80.

Faizan, M., Yousaf, A., & Khan, S. M. (2025). Psychological contract breach and its consequences on employee turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment: Insights from human resource management and workplace psychology. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), 262–273.

Fajariyanti, Y., Riani, A. L., & Agustika, N. A. (2022). The effect of psychological contract on turnover intention mediating by employee engagement. Proceedings of the International Conference on Economics, Business, and Economic Education (ICE-BEES 2022), 3(5), 316–328.

Fatmawati, L., & Hindiarto, F. (2023). The relationship between psychological contracts and job satisfaction with turnover intention at PT. X contact center service division. Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, 4(2), 181–190.

Gulo, Y., & Ardiansyah, F. A. (2025). Job satisfaction and organizational commitment: Mediating factors influencing turnover intention. International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, 4(1), 294–310.

Hadj, K. (2024). The relationship between job satisfaction and employee loyalty: Case of teaching-researcher staff. Business Ethics and Leadership, 8(1), 15–27.

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24.

Hao Lv, Wang, G., Ghouri, M. W. A., & Deng, Z. (2023). Investigating the impact of psychological contract violation on survivors’ turnover intention under the downsizing context: a moderated mediation mechanism. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(3), 1–13.

Hasan, T., Jawaad, M., & Butt, I. (2021). The influence of person–job fit, work–life balance, and work conditions on organizational commitment: Investigating the mediation of job satisfaction in the private sector of the emerging market. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(12), 1–20.

He, Z., Chen, L., & Shafait, Z. (2023). How psychological contract violation impacts turnover intentions of knowledge workers? The moderating effect of job embeddedness. Heliyon, 9(3), 1–11.

Johannes, R. A. (2024). Optimalisasi Smart ASN dalam mendukung transformasi birokrasi di era digital di Provinsi Sulawesi Utara. Jurnal Ilmiah Administrasi Pemerintahan Daerah, 16(2), 151–165.

Kanu, G. C., Ugwu, L. E., Ogba, F. N., Ujoatuonu, I. V., Ezeh, M. A., Eze, A., ..., & Okoro, C. (2022). Psychological contract breach and turnover intentions among lecturers: The moderating role of organizational climate. Frontiers in Education, 7(3), 1–14.

Khoury, R. (2025). The relationship between psychological contract breach and work motivation and attitude among tech employees: the moderating role of conscientiousness. San Jose: Universitas Negeri Sanjose (Master’s thesis).

Kristian, I., Kurniawan, Y. T., Khaerani, T. R., Pramana, I., & Marbun, F. K. (2025). Beyond bureaucratic rigidity: A dynamic capability framework for public sector disaster response. Publica: Jurnal Pemikiran Administrasi Negara, 17(1), 39–61.

Kurniawan, I. S., Kusuma, N. T., Suyanto, S., Nikmah, U., Purbowo, F. A., Susilowati, H., & Sholihah, M. (2024). Job satisfaction for sustainability: The impact of toxic work environment and workload mediated by emotional exhaustion. E3S Web of Conferences, 571(4), 1–9.

Lazzari, M., Alvarez, J. M., & Ruggieri, S. (2022). Predicting and explaining employee turnover intention. International Journal of Data Science and Analytics, 14(3), 279–292.

Lee, C., & Kim, K. (2024). Analysis of job satisfaction and turnover intention according to the characteristics of forest industry workers. Forests, 15(11), 1–14.

Liao, C., Li, Z., & Huang, L. (2024). How does psychological contract breach affect employee silence? a moderated mediation model. SAGE Open, 14(4), 1–16.

Lubis, R. A., Lubis, Z., & Patisina, P. (2024). The role of job satisfaction on turnover intention with employee engagement as a mediating variable. Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology, 13(3), 1–142.

Mohamed, M. A., Mohamud, F. A. S., Mohamud, I. H., & Farah, M. A. (2024). The influence of workplace relationships and job satisfaction of private universities in Mogadishu: Employee performance as a mediator variable. Frontiers in Education, 9(4), 1–12.

Prabandari, R. S., Sari, G. P., & Raharja, E. (2025). The influence of job satisfaction and work-family balance on employee performance. Arthatama Journal of Business Management and Accounting, 9(1), 198–212.

Puente, A. C. F., & Nuria, S.-S. (2023). The impact of the different dimensions of job quality on job satisfaction in the public and private sector: What is wrong with the social environment. Sage Open, 13(4), 1–14.

Putri, Y. A., & Fathiyah, K. N. (2025). The effect leader-member exchange and interpersonal communication on employee job satisfaction. Research Horizon, 5(2), 691–704.

Pyhäjärvi, D., & Söderberg, C. B. (2024). The straw that broke the nurse’s back—using psychological contract breach to understand why nurses leave. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80(12), 4989–5002.

Robinson, S. L., & Morrison, E. W. (2000). The development of psychological contract breach and violation: A longitudinal study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 21(5), 525–546.

Rousseau, D. (2012). Psychological contracts in organizations: Understanding written and unwritten agreements. London: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Saufi, R. A., Aidara, S., Che Nawi, N. B., Permarupan, P. Y., Zainol, N. R. B., & Kakar, A. S. (2023). Turnover intention and its antecedents: The mediating role of work–life balance and the moderating role of job opportunity. Frontiers in Psychology, 14(4), 1–12.

Soeprapto, A., Tawil, M. R., Naim, S., Buamonabot, I., & Thahrim, M. (2024). Analysis of the effect of job satisfaction and tenure on turnover intention. Jurnal Ekonomi, 13(3), 517–523.

Topa, G., Aranda-Carmena, M., & De-Maria, B. (2022). Psychological contract breach and outcomes: A systematic review of reviews. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 1–22.

Wayne, S. J., Shore, L. M., & Liden, R. C. (1997). Perceived organizational support and leader–member exchange: A social exchange perspective. The Academy of Management Journal, 40(1), 82–111.

Yang, J. P., Xue, F., Zhang, L., & Zhang, Q. (2025). Psychological contract and turnover intention among healthcare assistants in a hospital environment: A multi-center cross-sectional analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 16(2), 1–7.

Yu, J., & Hamid, R. A. (2024). Gig workers’ psychological contracts and turnover intention: A mediated path analysis of organizational identification and job satisfaction. Acta Psychologica, 251(4), 1–10.

Zhang, S., Wang, J., Ke, Y., Li, N., & Su, Z. (2024). Exploring the impact of job satisfaction on turnover intention among professionals in the construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 9(2)1–110.

Zhao, H., Wayne, S. J., Glibkowski, B. C., & Bravo, J. (2007). The impact of psychological contract breach on work-related outcomes: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 60(1), 647–680.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-22

How to Cite

Priyatmika, R. A., Kurniawan, I. S., & Kusuma, N. T. (2025). Job Satisfaction Bridges Contract Violation and Turnover Intention. Research Horizon, 5(6), 2403–2416. https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.5.6.2025.831

Similar Articles

<< < 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.