Effects of Job Satisfaction, Job Stress, and Social Support on the Turnover Intention of Employed Pharmacists Working in Community Pharmacies

Background: Community pharmacists are essential providers in primary healthcare, yet high turnover among employed community pharmacists (i.e., non-owner pharmacists) poses challenges to workforce stability and service quality.This study was conducted to examine the associations between job satisfaction, job stress, and social support with turnover intention among employed community pharmacists in Korea.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted targeting employed community pharmacists.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses.Results: A total of 120 respondents were included.The mean scores were 3.41 for turnover intention, 3.86 for job satisfaction, 2.26 for job stress, and 3.28 for social support.Turnover intention was lower among employed pharmacists earning 7 million KRW than those earning 4-5 million KRW.Job satisfaction was higher among males, higher-income groups, and those working at a single pharmacy.Peer support was higher in pharmacies with four or more pharmacists.Turnover intention showed negative correlations with social support (r= -0.601) and job satisfaction (r= -0.386), and a positive correlation with job stress (r=0.534).In multiple regression analysis, social support (= -0.425) and job stress (= 0.216) remained significantly associated with turnover intention, whereas job satisfaction was not statistically significant.Conclusion: Turnover intention among employed community pharmacists was more strongly associated with job stress and social support than with job satisfaction.Workplace-level interventions aimed at reducing job stress and strengthening supportive relationships may help improve retention and enhance the stability of community pharmacy services.