Using the Job Demands- Resources Model to Investigate Risk Perception, Safety Climate and Job Satisfaction in Safety Critical Organizations

Morten Nielsen, Kathryn Jane Mearns, Stig Berge Matthiesen, Jarle Eid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Using the Job Demands–Resources model (JD-R) as a theoretical framework, this study investigated the relationship between risk perception as a job
demand and psychological safety climate as a job resource with regard to job satisfaction in safety critical organizations. In line with the JD-R model, it
was hypothesized that high levels of risk perception is related to low job satisfaction and that a positive perception of safety climate is related to high job
satisfaction. In addition, it was hypothesized that safety climate moderates the relationship between risk perception and job satisfaction. Using a sample of
Norwegian offshore workers (N = 986), all three hypotheses were supported. In summary, workers who perceived high levels of risk reported lower levels
of job satisfaction, whereas this effect diminished when workers perceived their safety climate as positive. Follow-up analyses revealed that this interaction
was dependent on the type of risks in question. The results of this study supports the JD-R model, and provides further evidence for relationships between
safety-related concepts and work-related outcomes indicating that organizations should not only develop and implement sound safety procedures to reduce
the effects of risks and hazards on workers, but can also enhance other areas of organizational life through a focus on safety.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)465-475
Number of pages10
JournalScandinavian Journal of Psychology
Volume52
Issue number5
Early online date28 Apr 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Keywords

  • risk perception
  • psychological safety climate
  • job satisfaction
  • safety critical organizations
  • job demands-resources model

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