Nasaj, M.; Badi, S.; Murtagh, N. and Ding, L. (2025) Collective AI anxiety and team innovative behaviour: The role of coping strategies. Construction Innovation, 26(5), pp. 1469-1497. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to investigate the relationship between collective anxiety relating to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in construction companies and team innovative behaviours, purposing a potential mediation role of employees' coping strategies. Design/methodology/approach – The deductive nature of the research dedicated a quantitative research methodology. Structural equation modelling was conducted on a data set of 540 randomly chosen responses to an online questionnaire from European-based construction employees. Findings – The results showed a significant positive relationship between collective AI anxiety and team innovative behaviour. The mediation relationships were also statistically significant. While emotion- and relationship-focused coping had positive relationships with team innovative behaviour, problem-focused coping had a negative relationship. An explanation from cognitive psychology is offered for this finding. Practical implications – There is potential for construction organizations to increase team innovative behaviours through supporting emotion- and relationship-focused coping strategies for collective AI anxiety. Approaches include open discussions on AI-related concerns to allow team members to voice their anxieties and fostering interpersonal connections to facilitate relationship-focused coping. Originality/value – This study contributes to understanding the psychological and social impacts of AI in the construction industry, offering practical insights for fostering innovation amidst AI-induced anxieties. In addition, it presents an empirical study examining relation-focused coping as a new strategy for collective team coping. Building the conceptual framework at the team level addresses the scarcity of research on managing anxiety and fostering innovation within teams.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | collective AI anxiety; emotion-focused coping strategy; problem-focused coping strategy; relation-focused coping strategy; team innovative behaviour |
| Index terms: | quantitative research, conceptual framework, construction organization, questionnaire, construction company, anxiety, psychology, empirical study, coping, construction employee, construction industry, strategy, structural equation modelling, mediation, methodology, artificial intelligence, social impact |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, data analysis and analytics, artificial intelligence, sociology, management, dispute resolution, industry analysis, research methods, practitioner, behavioral psychology, organization, theoretical framing, statistical analysis, mental health and wellbeing |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Legal Issues, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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