How psychological safety influences employee creativity in China: Work engagement as a mediator

Abstract

Although the effect of psychological safety on employee creativity is well documented, the mechanisms that explain that effect remain unclear. This study extends previous research by examining the direct link between psychological safety and employee creativity, and testing the mediating effect of work engagement in this relationship in a Chinese context. We chose 231 participants employed by 4 banking companies located in China to complete a series of self-report questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the mediation model. The results reveal that psychological safety was a significant antecedent of employee creativity and that work engagement fully mediated the influence of psychological safety on employee creativity. These findings shed light on how psychological safety influences employee creativity. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.