RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JAPA INTENTION AND WITHDRAWAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG MEDICAL DOCTORS IN TEACHING HOSPITALS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

The increasing prevalence of Japa syndrome among Nigerian medical professionals has become a major concern for the healthcare sector due to its implications for workforce stability and service delivery. This study examined the relationship between Japa intention and withdrawal behaviours among academic medical doctors in teaching hospitals in Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between Japa intention and absenteeism, lateness to work, psychological withdrawal behaviour, and overall withdrawal behaviours. The study was anchored on the Withdrawal Progression Theory developed by Mobley (1977), which explains how employees progress from intentions to leave to behavioural disengagement and eventual turnover. A correlational survey research design was adopted. The population consisted of 900 academic medical doctors drawn from three selected teaching hospitals in Edo State, while a sample of 450 respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires measuring Japa intention, absenteeism, lateness to work, and psychological withdrawal behaviour. The reliability coefficients of the instruments ranged from 0.772 to 0.822 using the Cronbach Alpha method. Data were analysed using regression analysis.