The Relationship between Error Management, Safety Climate, and Job-Stress Perception in the Construction Industry: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

Job stress (JS) is a significant issue in the construction industry of developing countries. This study aims to examine the impact of error-management climate (EMC), safety climate (SC), and psychological capital (PC) (as a mediator) on employee JS in the construction industry, and establish relationships between these constructs. A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather data from 144 respondents. The study's hypothesized relationships were tested using partial-least-squares structural-equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The analysis indicated a positive association between EMC and PC. Conversely, EMC did not have a negative impact on JS. The study also established a constructive relationship between SC and PC, and a significant negative association between SC and JS. Regarding mediation, PC was found to partially mediate the effect of EMC on JS, accounting for 55% of the variance accounted for (VAF). The study's innovative contribution lies in exploring the limited research on PC within the construction industry, and investigating the interactions among SC, EMC, PC, and JS.

Automated summary

This study examines the impact of error-management climate, safety climate, and psychological capital as a mediator on job stress in the construction industry. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 144 respondents. The results show positive associations between error-management climate and psychological capital, safety climate and psychological capital, and a negative association between safety climate and job stress. Psychological capital partially mediates the effect of error-management climate on job stress. This study provides innovative contributions to the limited research on psychological capital in the construction industry and the interactions among safety climate, error-management climate, psychological capital, and job stress.