). This last result confirms that PSM dimensions are not the strongest predictors of resignation. If we turn now to the fourth step of our regression analysis, which is to say the
assessment of the moderating effect of PSM dimensions on the direct relationship between red tape and resignation, the results suggest that with the exception of ‘commitment to the public interest/civic duty’, the other PSM dimensions do not have a significant moderating effect. The comparison of this specific result with the one related to the direct relationship between red tape and resignation shows that the ‘commitment to the public interest/civic duty’ PSM dimension acts as a moderator for the direct relationship between red tape and resignation. Indeed, the positive effect of red tape on resignation becomes negative when introducing this PSM dimension as a moderating variable. In other words ‘commitment to the public interest/civic duty’ contributes to reducing the effect of red
tape on resignation, whereas ‘attraction to policy-making’ does not. Therefore, hypothesis 4 is only partly supported. Additionally, hypothesis 5, which stipulates that ‘compassion’ and ‘self-sacrifice’ should act as moderators by reinforcing the effects of red tape on resignation, is clearly not supported in the context of this study.