RESUMO
The number of male dental hygienists has been continuously increasing in dental services. The purpose of this study aimed to identify the relationship between job stress, job satisfaction, and turnover intention in male dental hygienists and to provide basic data to improve their job satisfaction. The study population was 110 Korean male dental hygienists working for dental clinics or hospitals. The data were collected from November 10 to December 7, 2015. After an explanation about the objective of the study, 110 questionnaires were distributed via email, and 97 responses were analyzed using SPSS. Overall averages of job stress, job satisfaction and turnover intention in male dental hygienists were 3.05, 2.92, and 3.47 out of 5, respectively. Some sub-factors of job stress, including interpersonal relationships at the workplace and future prospects of dental clinics, were proven to have statistically significant negative influence on job satisfaction (p<0.001). Regression analysis was performed with job stress and job satisfaction as independent variables and turnover intention as a dependent variable. Results showed that job stress had a positive effect on turnover intention (p<0.01) while job satisfaction had a negative effect on turnover intention (p<0.001). Job satisfaction was revealed to have statistically significant negative influence on turnover intention (p<0.001). Some of sub-factors of job stress, including work environment and future prospects of dental clinics and professional position, had a positive effect on turnover intention (p<0.05). The study showed that higher job stress led to higher turnover intention, and higher job satisfaction led to lower turnover intention. Accordingly, job stress and job satisfaction are critical factors for turnover intention in male dental hygienists.