Structural Equation Modeling of the Relationships Between Safety Climate, Self-Determined Safety Motivation, and Safety Behavior in a High-Risk Industry

Zahra  Batooli; Ali Asghar  Khajevandi; Masoud Motalebi  Kashani; Iraj  Mohammadfam; Rasoul Azizian  Shahrivar

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i4.21458

Zahra Batooli Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Ali Asghar Khajevandi Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Masoud Motalebi Kashani Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Iraj Mohammadfam Department of Ergonomic, Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran
Rasoul Azizian Shahrivar Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i4.21458

Keywords: Safety motivation, Safety climate, Safe behavior, Self-determination theory, Structural equation modeling, Scale validation

Abstract

Introduction: Workplace safety is a critical factor for organizational success and the protection of humancapital. Safe behavior among employees is influenced by various psychological and organizationalfactors, including safety climate and safety motivation. Considering the importance of enhancing safetymotivation and the lack of standardized indigenous tools in Iran, this study aimed to culturally adapt theSelf-Determination Safety Motivation Scale (SDSM) and examine its mediating role in the relationshipbetween safety climate and employees’ safe behavior at Kavir Steel Complex in Aran and Bidgol County.

Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 256production line employees. Data were collected using the Safety Climate Questionnaire, the Safe BehaviorQuestionnaire, and the Persian-adapted SDSM. The adaptation process included forward–backwardtranslation, content validity evaluation by experts, and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzedusing SPSS version 26 and structural equation modeling with SmartPLS version 4.

Results: The findings indicated that safety climate had a positive and significant effect on safe behavior (β= 0.608, p < 0.001), and safety motivation significantly mediated this relationship (β = 0.388, p < 0.001). Itis noteworthy that the direct relationship between safety climate and safety motivation was significantlynegative. The structural model explained approximately 42% of the variance in safety behavior (R² =0.419), indicating satisfactory predictive power. Model fit indices (NFI = 0.91, SRMR = 0.06) demonstrateda satisfactory model fit. Convergent validity, discriminant validity, and construct reliability were allconfirmed at acceptable levels.

Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of fostering a positive safety climate and strengtheningemployees’ intrinsic motivation in high-risk environments to reduce workplace accidents and promoteorganizational health. These findings can serve as a foundation for policy-making and training programsin the field of HSE