The Role of Support Mechanisms in Reducing Burnout and Turnover Intention: A Study of Healthcare Professionals

The shortage of healthcare employees is a significant concern today. High levels of burnout and workforce turnover remain a challenge in the healthcare sector in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). This study examines the relationships between leader support, team support, emotional exhaustion, affective commitment, and turnover intention among healthcare employees, with a specific focus on the mediating role of emotional exhaustion. The research surveyed 125 employees from public and private healthcare institutions using validated measurement scales. Structural equation modeling was applied to test both direct and indirect effects. The findings revealed that leader and team support significantly reduce emotional exhaustion and positively influence affective commitment, while emotional exhaustion itself strongly predicts turnover intention. However, emotional exhaustion did not significantly mediate the relationships between support mechanisms and either affective commitment or turnover intention. Team support showed a positive relationship with turnover intention, suggesting that team dynamics or organizational stressors may play a complex role in shaping employee decisions to stay or leave. By offering a comprehensive analysis of how leader and team support influence emotional exhaustion, commitment, and turnover intention, this study provides critical suggestions to reduce burnout and enhance retention in healthcare institutions.