Investigating the mediating effect of quiet quitting on turnover intention across generations X, Y and Z

Purpose – This study sets out to examine the mediating role of quiet quitting in the relationship between various workplace antecedents and turnover intention, with a specific focus on generational differences across GenX, GenY, and GenZ. Aims(s) – The primary aim is to identify the antecedents that show significant indirect generation-specific effects on turnover intention via quiet quitting. Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing a sample of 2,193 urban and suburban employees from Berlin, Germany, this study tested a mediation model featuring five independent variables linked to quiet quitting, with turnover intention as the outcome variable. The analysis employed Cronbach’s alpha, confirmatory factor analysis, multicollinearity checks, and multiple-mediation regression techniques. Findings – The results reveal that quiet quitting partially mediated the relationship between dissatisfaction and turnover intention for GenY, as well as the relationship between negative extra-role behavior and cynicism/depersonalization for GenZ. Additionally, negative work-life balance showed partial mediation across all three generations—GenX, GenY, and GenZ. Full mediation effects were observed specifically in GenZ for both negative extra-role behavior and cynicism/depersonalization. No significant mediating effect of quiet quitting was found for disengagement. Limitations of the study – The sample is limited to Berlin and its suburbs, with no comparative data from other regions. The generational groups are represented by moderately sized subsamples. Additionally, after conducting reliability analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), most scales were reduced to just two or three items. Originality/value – This study positions quiet quitting as a mediating factor within a network of related variables and is among the first to examine how these mediation effects differ across GenX, GenY, and GenZ.