BIO

Hi everyone! My name is Anastasiya, and I am a sophomore double majoring in marketing and finance. I am originally from Europe and have lived in Boston since I was 9. In my free time, I am the risk manager for the club tennis team here on campus, am currently training to become a UROP leader next fall, and have recently joined the FSU belly dance team.

The Effect of Eco-Anxiety on Sustainability-Related Nonprofit Organizations Employees Turnover Intentions

Abstract

The nonprofit sector faces a troubling turnover rate of 19%, significantly higher than the all-industry average of 12% (Strub, 2022). Within the environmental nonprofit (NPO) community, the term "eco-anxiety" has gained recognition. Defined as a chronic fear of environmental doom (APA, 2017; EcoAmerica, 2017), eco-anxiety may explain the high turnover rates. However, existing research primarily focuses on measurement (Hogg, 2017; Ágoston, 2022) rather than its impact on NPO employees. This paper proposes a reconceptualization of eco-anxiety as mission-based rather than practical anxiety. We hypothesize that eco-anxiety influences turnover intentions, with factors like emotional labor, organizational culture, and coping mechanisms playing mediating and moderating roles. Our qualitative approach aims to understand how eco-anxiety affects NPO employees and their decisions to stay or leave. We challenge the notion of eco-anxiety as practical anxiety, suggesting it revolves around mission-related concerns. While practical anxiety aids in decision-making, eco-anxiety pertains to existential questions about the viability of one's cause. Understanding eco-anxiety's distinct nature is crucial in addressing the rising turnover rates in environmental NPOs.

Keywords: eco-anxiety, nonprofits, turnover intentions