Background Public service motivation (PSM) is regarded as an important psychological resource to enhance public employees’ job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and lower their turnover intention. Although the relationship between PSM and individual performance has been examined extensively in previous studies, the results regarding the links between these factors still remain inconsistent. Our empirical study provides some practical implications for policy makers to improve employees’ PSM through various formal or informal occupational training. Methods We conducted a survey with 468 employees in 16 community health service centers in Yunnan province , southwest China . The associations between PSM, work engagement and work attitudes were assessed by some statistical methods including Pearson correlation, confirmatory factory analysis and structural equation modeling . Results Employees’ PSM had a direct positive effect on job satisfaction and organizational commitment respectively, but it had a direct negative effect on turnover intention. Moreover, PSM increased employees’ job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and lowered employees’ turnover intention through work engagement. Conclusion The results suggest that managers in the community health service centers should assess job applicants’ PSM levels in in recruitment and selection procedures and enhance employees’ PSM levels through various occupational training. Further, considering the role of work engagement in shaping employees’ work attitudes, policy makers should attach importance to the promoting of employees’ work engagement.