Mindful leadership and construction workers' safety citizenship behavior: A moderated mediation model of team psychological safety, participative safety self-efficacy, and leader-member exchange

Safety citizenship behavior (SCB) among construction workers has emerged as a key concept for preventing accidents and enhancing workplace safety. Previous research has demonstrated that mindful leadership (ML) plays a significant role in fostering such behavior. However, the effects of ML on SCB have not been thoroughly examined. To address this gap, the present study collected survey data from 500 Chinese construction workers to investigate the association between ML and two types of SCB, i.e., prosocial safety behavior (PSSB) and proactive safety behavior (PASB). This relationship was examined through the mediating roles of team psychological safety (TPS) and participative safety self-efficacy (PSSE). Additionally, leader-member exchange (LMX) was incorporated as a moderating variable. The findings revealed that ML directly predicted both types of SCB. TPS and PSSE independently mediated the link between ML and SCB and also formed a sequential (chain) mediating pathway. Specifically, ML influenced PASB (e.g., voice and initiating change) primarily through TPS, while it influenced both types of SCB, particularly PSSB (e.g., helping and stewardship), through PSSE. Further, TPS enhanced workers' PSSE, which in turn promoted PSSB and PASB. The moderating impact of LMX was significant along the mediated paths involving TPS and PSSE. These findings clarify the mechanisms through which ML influences SCB, by integrating perspectives on workers' emotions, cognition, and interpersonal relationships. The findings enrich current academic literature on mindfulness and SCB and advances theoretical understanding by applying sense-making theory, social information processing theory, and conservation of resources theory to the context of construction safety. Practically, the results offer targeted recommendations and strategies for enlightening occupational safety management in the construction sector.