Temporal leadership and safety behavior of new-generation of construction workers: the moderating effect of perceived work meaning

Objectives. Recent research on the influence of temporal factors on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers remains limited. To investigate the impact mechanism of temporal leadership on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers and effectively reduce the incidence of safety accidents, this study was conducted with a sample of more than 400 new-generation construction workers. Methods. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to empirically test the chain mechanism linking temporal leadership to the safety behavior of new-generation of construction workers, as well as the moderating effect of perceived work meaning. Results. This study found that temporal leadership exerts a direct and positive impact on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers; that job stress and work–family balance play a mediating role in this relationship; and that perceived work meaning moderates the negative relationship between temporal leadership and job stress. Specifically, the stress-buffering effect of temporal leadership is more pronounced when workers perceive lower levels of work meaning. Conclusion. These findings provide theoretical and practical significance for understanding how temporal leadership influences the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers.