Threat of Professional Obsolescence and Mobility Intentions: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies

This study begins a research program that examines how IT professionals cope with the threat of professional obsolescence. In answering this question, this study draws on theories of occupational stress, in particular the theory of conservation of resources (Hobfoll 2002; Hobfoll and Freedy 1993), to relate the threat of professional obsolescence with IT professionals’ coping strategies and their subsequent intentions to turnover and turnaway. Results from a sample of IT professionals are consistent with the theory of conservation of resources in that the threat of professional obsolescence is negatively related to direct action coping and is positively related to emotion focused coping. Extending the theory, we find that direct action coping is negatively related to turnaway intentions as hypothesized but contrary to hypothesis, emotion focused coping is positively related to turnover intentions. We conclude this study with the discussion of these results and propose future research directions.