The Effects of Job-Based and Organization-Based Psychological Ownership on Turnover Intention Among SME Workers: Focusing on the Mediating Role of Employee Engagement

SMEs are Korea's economic growth engine and play a key role in creating jobs. Even though SMEs face a severe shortage of manpower. The high turnover rate in SMEs leads to work gaps and spreads turnover within the organization, which negatively affects the growth and performance of the organization. Therefore, further research is needed in this field. This study analyzed the structural relationships between organization-based psychological ownership (OBPO), job-based psychological ownership (JBPO), employee engagement (EE), and turnover intention (TI) derived from previous studies, focusing on SMEs workers, and found the following findings. First, both OBPO and EE were positively and statistically significant. Second, OBPO and TI were negatively correlated and were statistically significant. Third, both JBPO and EE were positively and statistically significant. Fourth, the negative correlation between the JBPO and TI was not statistically significant. Fifth, EE and TI were negatively correlated and were statistically significant. Sixth, EE had a statistically significant mediating effect on OBPO and TI. Seventh, EE had a statistically significant mediating effect on JBPO and TI. Based on the findings of this study, theoretical and practical implications are presented and suggestions are made for further research.