The Mediating Effect of Perceived Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction on the Impact of Type D Personality on...

General practitioners (GPs) face critical workforce shortages and high turnover globally. While external factors are known to influence turnover intention (TI), the role of individual psychological traits is less well understood. This study examines the association between Type D personality (TDP) and TI among GPs and the co-occurring statistical associations of perceived occupational stress (POS) and job satisfaction (JS).

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to October 2024 among 383 GPs in Longhua District, Shenzhen, China. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, TDP, POS, JS, and TI. After controlling potential confounders, correlation and regression analyses were performed to assess associations between TDP, POS, JS, and TI. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the specific indirect associative components within the covariance between TDP and TI.

After adjusting for confounding factors, TDP was significantly positively associated with TI (B = 0.71) and POS (B = 0.30), and significantly negatively associated with JS (B = -0.24). In the hypothesized structural model, the proportions of total standardized covariance attributable to the indirect associative paths involving POS alone, JS alone, and the serial combination of POS and JS were 17.28%, 9.90%, and 3.50%, respectively, summing to 30.68% of the model-implied association.

GPs with TDP reported a higher level of turnover intention, and this association was statistically accompanied by elevated occupational stress and diminished job satisfaction. Healthcare managers may consider implementing targeted interventions aimed at reducing stress and enhancing satisfaction, particularly among GPs with TDP, although the effectiveness of such strategies requires confirmation in future longitudinal or intervention studies.