ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the concept of turnover and summarizes the research literature on the relationship between social support and turnover. It also discusses turnover research that addresses nuanced aspects of social support and presents findings on the effects of social support on dependent variables closely related to turnover. A major focus of research in the social support literature has been on what is termed "the buffering hypothesis." According to this hypothesis, social support affects the extent to which individuals appraise situations as stressful. Research on the buffering hypothesis has produced mixed results. D. Finfeld-Connett proposed a distinction between instrumental and emotional support. And, R. J. Turner and J. B. Turner, after reviewing the literature, summarized the various dimensions of social support into the following three categories: emotional support, structural support, and received support. The importance of social support early in the socialization process can be found in work on the psychological contracts that individuals develop with their organizations.