Municipal Allowance and Compensation Satisfaction : Moderating Effects on the Burnout–Turnover Link Among Korean Long-Term Care Workers

Turnover among long-term care workers threatens care quality and workforce sustainability in aging societies. This study examines the link between job burnout and turnover intention among South Korean nursing home caregivers, focusing on the moderating role of compensation satisfaction. It further explores whether municipal allowances amplify this buffering effect. Findings reveal that while burnout increases turnover intention, compensation satisfaction mitigates this relationship - but only among those receiving municipal allowances. Although the three-way interaction of burnout, compensation satisfaction, and municipal allowance was not statistically significant, subgroup analyses indicated that allowance provision provides the material context within which compensation satisfaction can exert its buffering role. These results underscore the need for equitable, regionally supported compensation structures to enhance caregiver retention and reinforce psychological resilience in long-term care environments.