Speci®c determinants of intrinsic work motivation, burnout and turnover intentions: a study among nurses Peter P.M. Janssen PhD Organizational Psychologist, Senior Researcher/Lecturer, Department of Health Organization Policy and Economics, Maastricht University, The Netherlands Jan de Jonge PhD RN Nursing Scientist, Senior Researcher/Lecturer, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Nymegen, The Netherlands and Arnold B. Bakker PhD Social Psychologist, Senior Researcher/lecturer, Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands Accepted for publication 1 July 1998 JANSSEN P.P.M., DE JONGE J. & BAKKER A.B. (1999) Journal of Advanced Nursing 29(6), 1360±1369 Speci®c determinants of intrinsic work motivation, burnout and turnover intentions: a study among nurses This study of 156 Dutch general hospital nurses tested a theoretically derived model of speci®c relationships between work stressors and stress reactions. The model proposes four central domains of the work situation, namely work content, working conditions, social and labour relations, and conditions of employment. In addition, the model proposes three important stress reactions, namely a diminished intrinsic work motivation, occupational burnout and an inclination to leave the job. More speci®cally, it was hypothesized that (i) intrinsic work motivation is primarily determined by work content variables, (ii) burnout is primarily determined by both work load and limited social support, and (iii) propensity to leave is primarily determined by conditions of employment. All these relationships were simultaneously tested using a structural equations modelling technique. The results of a series of LISREL analyses indicate that the postulated model ®ts well to the data. The present study used conceptually integrated measures that cover the area of work stress and stress reactions, and provides directions for interventions aimed at preventing or reducing speci®c negative outcomes of work-related stress in general hospitals. Keywords: burnout, covariance structure modelling, health care, motivation, nurses, turnover, work stress INTRODUCTION Health care settings are plagued by a wide variety of stressors, such as confrontation with severe illness and Correspondence: Dr Peter P.M. Janssen, Maastricht University, Department HOPE (Health Organization, Policy and Economics), Section Work and Health, PO BOX 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Telefax: + 31 43 3670960. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1999, 29(6), 1360±1369 Experience before and throughout the nursing career 1360 Ó 1999 Blackwell Science Ltd