Interpersonal problems of the nonprofit workforce: Evaluating the wounded healer as the reason for high turnover

The research goal was to identify a potential explanation for the high levels of turnover in nonprofit organizations. First, nonprofit employees’ levels of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were evaluated and found to be significantly higher than for for-profit and government employees. This phenomenon could speak to a self-selection bias whereas wounded healers are drawn into the helping fields because of some perceived personal benefit they gain or because they might feel they can offer something more given their experiences. Having higher ACEs has been linked to job instability, and could be a contributing factor in the sector\u27s turnover rates. Nonprofit employees’ levels of interpersonal problems were also examined using the IIP-32 and it was found they had lower levels than the general population