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Uncovering Pathways to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS): Presenteeism and Psychosocial Safety Climate in the JD–R–OHS Model

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Occupational health and safety (OHS) remains a critical concern, yet the psychosocial mechanisms linking job demands and leadership to safety behaviors and motivation remain underexplored within the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework. This three-wave longitudinal study extended the JD-R-OHS model to examine Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) and health-related work functioning, operationalized as presenteeism using the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6), in relation to safety outcomes. Structural equation modeling distinguished pathways linking safety-specific leadership and job-family demands with safety compliance, participation, and motivation. Findings provided mixed support for the proposed model. PSC was the most consistently supported organisational mechanism, particularly linking safety-specific leadership with safety participation and motivation. In contrast, pathways involving perceived job and family demands and health-related work functioning received limited support. These findings suggest that organisational climate resources may be more influential than individual health-related work functioning in explaining safety outcomes and highlight PSC as a robust mechanism warranting investigation.

Source: Stress and Health

DOI: 10.1002/smi.70222

Authors: Jafar Akbari, Paula Brough, Xi Wen (Carys) Chan

Institution: Griffith University

Language: English

Topic: Occupational Health and Safety Research

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,070