Who saves the saviours during a pandemic? career calling protects healthcare workers from burnout and resigning

Abstract This study investigates whether career calling protects individuals from the challenges posed by fear of COVID-19 and job demands on burnout and turnover intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional data were collected from February to March 2021, involving a sample of 275 healthcare workers in Italy responsible for treating COVID-19 patients. Path analysis was employed to test direct, indirect, and conditional associations. The findings revealed a significant sequential mediation: Job demands partially mediated the relation between fear of COVID-19 and burnout, while burnout completely mediated the relation between fear of COVID-19 and turnover intentions. Furthermore, career calling moderated the relation between fear of COVID-19 and job demands, as well as between burnout and turnover intentions. When an individual’s sense of calling was high, the relation between fear of COVID-19 and perceived job demands, as well as between burnout and turnover intentions, was null. This study supports the notion that career calling acts as a personal resource, providing protection for individuals in the face of highly stressful work environments.