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What is Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC)?

PSC is a specific aspect of organisational climate, defined as “policies, practices, and procedures for worker psychological health and safety”

PSC is largely determined by management and leadership within organisations. The PSC construct has four main aspects that connect to best practice principles in the stress prevention, intervention, and safety climate literature.

  • First is senior management support and commitment to psychological health through involvement and proactivity. This aspect is evident when senior management take quick and decisive action to address and correct issues that affect psychological health.
  • Second is priority the management give to employee psychological health and safety versus productivity goals. For example, job demands (e.g., work pressure, emotional labour, physical demands) may be modified to make them more manageable, and management have the discretion to offer a variety of resources, such as work flexibility, autonomy, and social support that may buffer demands and reduce work stress.
  • Third is organisational communication that concerns how the members of the organisation communicate about psychological health and safety, including identification of risks to mental health, strategies for risk control and hazard management.
  • The final aspect, organisational participation concerns expectations for involvement from all levels within the organisation regarding stress prevention. It includes the integration of stakeholders such as employees, unions, and health and safety representatives in occupational (psychological) health and safety processes.
    (View this pdf file to learn more)

How to interpret PSC results?  

​PSC is measured using a 12 item scale (PSC-12) with scores ranging from 12 to 60. The following benchmarks were created to show risk levels and prognosis for PSC scores.

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See more about the PSC benchmarks from the Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) for the 2014-15 data collection.

Psychosocial Safety Climate Fact Sheet

Download Australian Workplace Barometer Psychology Safety Climate Factsheet (PSC) in "pdf" format

Chronicles of PSC Studies: A Journey Through Progression – Published and Unpublished Works
How to cite the PSC Database:

Afsharian, A., Dollard, M., & Crispin, C. (2026). PSC map and league table (PSC Database). Retrieved from https://www.stresscafe.net/awbproject-278749-565613.html

A Report on the Status of Global PSC:

Since 2008, numerous Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) studies have enhanced our understanding of global working conditions across various sectors. To date, 400 PSC studies have been reported to the PSC-GO team, contributing to the extensive PSC literature in journals, books and industry reports which are increasing substantially over time. More than half of the studies were published from 2022 onwards (53.3%), with the largest numbers published in 2024 (n = 64, 16.0%), 2025 (n = 57, 14.2%), and 2026 (n = 41, 10.3%).
The studies represented a wide range of industry settings. The most frequently examined contexts were multi-industry samples (n = 112, 28.0%), health and community services (n = 57, 14.2%), education (n = 55, 13.8%), and healthcare (n = 31, 7.8%). Other sectors, including construction, defence, finance, mining, manufacturing, transport, and hospitality, were represented less frequently.
Occupational samples were similarly diverse. Nearly one-third of studies included multiple occupational groups (n = 129, 32.3%), while 12.8% (n = 51) did not specify occupation. Among specific occupational groups, healthcare workers (n = 27, 6.8%), nurses (n = 19, 4.8%), teachers (n = 15, 3.8%), and academic staff (n = 11, 2.8%) were most frequently represented.
The evidence base demonstrated broad international representation. Australia (n = 100, 25.0%) contributed the largest number of studies, followed by Malaysia (n = 47, 11.8%), multi-country studies (n = 31, 7.8%), Sweden (n = 20, 5.0%), and both China and the United States (n = 17, 4.3% each).
Most studies were empirical (n = 344, 86.0%), whereas 45 studies (11.3%) were non-empirical and 11 studies (2.8%) could not be clearly classified. Cross-sectional designs predominated (n = 225, 56.3%), followed by longitudinal designs (n = 88, 22.0%). Reviews accounted for 9.5% (n = 38) of studies and qualitative studies for 4.8% (n = 19).
Overall, the literature is characterised by increasing publication activity, broad international and occupational representation, and a predominance of empirical, particularly cross-sectional, research designs.

There are still PSC publications and data to review.

If you possess any pertinent PSC data or projects, please contact Dr Ali Afsharian at the Adelaide University. Additionally, kindly ensure you upload your PSC research findings, including the Mean and Standard Deviation, to stresscafe.net using the link below.

Note: PSC mean and standard deviation (SD) are estimated based on the PSC item mean or a different range of responses. If you have any concerns or feedback, do not hesitate to contact us. 

Click here to submit your PSC data

Congratulations to the scholars below for their recent PSC studies.

  • Elbir, U., & Mizrak, K. C. (2026). Technostress, psychosocial safety climate, and worker well-being in automated manufacturing: A two-wave study. PLOS ONE, 21(4), e0345249. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0345249
  • Dollard, M. F., Loh, M. Y., & Bailey, T. (2026). The fish rots from the top: How senior management values and priorities shape worker mistreatment through psychosocial safety climate (PSC). European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2026.2648305
  • Gunnasekaran, B. N., Tirumalaisamy, V., Noordin, N., Fatin, N., Hamid, A., Yusoff, S. H. M., & Hamzah, I. (2026). Developing and validating a model of how spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence mediate the relationships among psychosocial safety climate, job demands & resources, and health outcomes in the workplace. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100400126
  • Cataloni, S., Forsyth, D., Brougham, D., & Thorn, K. (2026). Leadership competence and psychosocial safety climate implementation in an evolving school work environment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(5), 573. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050573
  • Ghaffaripour, S., Dollard, M. F., & Mäkikangas, A. (2026). Role of organizational support and loneliness in psychosocial safety climate-well-being relationship: Insights from the latent change score and cross-lagged panel models in two longitudinal studies. Journal of Business and Psychology, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-026-10111-5
  • Nickel, S. F., Korger, S., Hirning, K. C., Hönig, K., Wirtz, C. R., Keller, F., & Gündel, H. O. (2026). Impact of an integrated psychosocial intervention for health care professionals in an intensive care unit: Controlled quasi-experimental trial. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63, 00469580261428687. https://doi.org/10.1177/004695802614286
  • Kuek, T. Y., Choong, Y. O., Awee, A., Mohsin, F. H., Chai, B. B. H., & Yap, T. T. V. (2026). When leadership turns toxic: Bullying in Malaysian higher education institutions. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management Practices, 9(33), 617–632. https://doi.org/10.35631/ijemp.933037
  • Putranta, M. P. (2026). Psychosocial safety climate and employee thriving: The mediating roles of perceived organizational support and respect. Global Business and Finance Review, 31(4), 132–142. https://doi.org/10.17549/gbfr.2026.31.4.132
  • Wang, W., Woo, H., Patra, M., & Santos, A. (2026). Cyberloafing under toxic leadership: A job demands-resources account of burnout and perceived psychosocial safety climate. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202604.0811.v1
  • Turner, M., Zhang, R. P., & Holdsworth, S. (2026). Psychosocial safety, respect, and supervisor support of the minority: Women in site-based construction roles. International Journal of Construction Management, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2026.2669825
  • Hankin, K., Drew, J. M., & Keech, J. J. (2026). Police leadership under pressure: Job demand stress, resources, and psychological health. Police Quarterly. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10986111261453772
  • Widianti, E., Winarsunu, T., & Djudiah. (2026). The dark side of organizational citizenship behaviour: Examining the buffering role of safety climate on employee health complaints. Mens Sana, 1(1), 19–25. https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/mensana/article/view/44680
  • Song, S. (Sophia), Smith, P., Zadow, A., Loh, M. Y., Pienkowski, M., & Dollard, M. (2026). Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC), Workplace Mental Health (MH) Stigma and Psychological Distress Among Canadian Employees: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003757
  • Dollard, M., Neser, D., Lushington, K., Zadow, A., & Baum, F. (2026). Why workers rate vice chancellor salaries as they do: Psychosocial safety climate, industrial relations, and worker wellbeing in Australian universities. Safety Science, 203, 107301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2026.107301
  • Miles, M. (2026). Understanding psychosocial safety climate in New Zealand small businesses: Examining employee outcomes and awareness with WorkSafe NZ standards (Master’s thesis, University of Canterbury, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha). University of Canterbury.
  • Atalla, A. D. G., Osman, S. R. S., Hassen, H. A. M., Felemban, E. M., Felemban, O., Shebaili, M. M., … Zabady, H. A. H. (2026). Safe minds, agile hands: Unpacking the link between psychosocial safety climate and ambidexterity among nurses: The mediating role of adaptive performance. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202606.0330.v1
  • Kim, J., Cho, S. S., & Kang, M. Y. (2026). Psychosocial safety climate and burnout among Korean workers: The mediating role of work stress. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003826
  • Nguyen, M. V., & Phan, C. T. (2026). Assessing the performance of psychosocial safety climate in construction firms of different sizes. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-03-2026-0206
  • Tyas, I. W., Munawir, A. A., Zaika, Y., & Yusainy, C. (2026). Association between psychosocial safety climate and worker well-being in construction workers in developing countries: A systematic literature review. EVERGREEN Joint Journal of Novel Carbon Resource Sciences & Green Asia Strategy, 13(2), 947–967. https://doi.org/10.5109/7434185
  • Tyas, I. W., Munawir, A. A., Zaika, Y., Yusainy, C., & Widjaksono, E. T. (2026). Psychosocial safety climate as a mediator between safety culture and perceived safety performance in East Java mid-rise construction projects. International Journal of Safety & Security Engineering, 16(5), 1157. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsse.160520
  • Cataloni, S., Forsyth, D., Brougham, D., Thorn, K., & Haar, J. (2026). Psychosocial safety climate through a mātauranga Māori lens: Insights from an Aotearoa/New Zealand school. Journal of Management & Organization, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2026.10111
  • Cho, S. S., Park, H., & Kang, M. Y. (2026). Association between psychosocial safety climate and multiple dimensions of work stress in Korea. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 99(6), 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-026-02225-3
  • Bakar, N. A., Bulgiba, A., & Isahak, M. (2026). Unravelling the link between psychosocial safety climate (PSC) and burnout: A longitudinal study of healthcare workers in Malaysia. Journal of Public Health and Emergency. https://doi.org/10.21037/jphe-2026-1-0007
  • Tyas, I. W., Munawir, A., Zaika, Y., Yusainy, C., & Widjaksono, E. T. (2026). Psychosocial safety climate as a critical mediator between safety culture and performance: Evidence from Indonesian construction. Acta Innovations, 62, 30–42. https://www.actainnovations.com/index.php/pub/article/view/585
  • Ekpo, K. I., Esitikot, E. L., Ekong, A. E., Ganranwei, S. T., & Umoh, M. U. (2026). Psychosocial safety climate, workplace safety culture, and safety performance in the Nigerian petroleum industry. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 10(7). https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100700086
  • Acevedo, S. P. F. (2026). Working alone: The role of psychosocial safety climate and working conditions on occupational stress and injuries among lone workers in the US (Doctoral dissertation, University of Washington).
  • Afsharian, A. & Dollard, M. (in press). Questionnaire review: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC-12 and PSC-4) scales. Occupational Medicine.

PSC citations in PDF.

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