The Mediating Role of Workplace Incivility on The Effect of Emotional Deprivation on Turnover Intention / İş Yerinde Duygusal Yoksunluğun İşten Ayrılma Niyeti Üzerindeki Etkisinde İşyeri Nezaketsizliğinin Aracı Rolü

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Başboğa M. İ., Kaya A.

Turkish Studies - Economics, Finance, Politics , cilt.21, sa.Ö1, ss.453-497, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

Abstract: This study aims to determine the mediating role of workplace incivility in the effect of emotional deprivation experienced by employees in pre-school education institutions on their turnover intention. The education sector, which is one of the fundamental building blocks in shaping the future of a society, is knowledge-based and consists of labor-intensive work processes. In addition to long working hours, factors such as institutional and parental pressure and high performance expectations expose individuals working in educational institutions to significant pressure and negativity, which in turn increases their turnover intention. This research is built on the theoretical framework that emotional deprivation acts as a factor that increases the level of perceived incivility in the work environment, and that increased incivility subsequently heightens turnover intention. Data were obtained through surveys from individuals working in private pre-school education institutions and analyzed using statistical software packages. The data, analyzed via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), revealed that emotional deprivation at work significantly and positively affects both turnover intention and workplace incivility. Additionally, workplace incivility was found to have a positive and significant impact on turnover intention. Regarding the mediating role of workplace incivility— the primary focus of the study—the results indicated a partial mediation effect in the relationship between emotional deprivation and turnover intention; thus, all hypotheses established within the scope of the research were accepted. The results suggest that organizations operating in the education sector should develop practices and strategies that increase positive emotional outcomes, trust, and happiness while reducing turnover intention. Finally, identifying the mediating effect of workplace incivility emphasizes that senior management policies aimed at keeping individuals satisfied, happy, and respectful within a framework of professional courtesy are inevitable. Keywords: Emotional deprivation, Turnover intention, Civility, Workplace incivility, Structural equation modeling.