When Age Meets Perception: How Subjective and Chronological Age Shape Safety Motivation and Behaviour

Abstract

This study explores the dynamics of workplace safety, specifically examining how both objective and subjective age moderate the relationships between safety climate, safety motivation, and safety behaviors. It aims to understand how age-related perceptions shape safety attitudes and practices, highlighting the psychological and contextual factors involved in promoting safe behavior at work. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 333 Italian employees from various occupational sectors. Data were collected through an online questionnaire including validated measures of safety climate, safety motivation, safety compliance, safety participation, chronological age, and subjective age. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted to examine the interplay between these variables. Findings indicate that a positive safety climate enhances safety motivation, which in turn predicts both safety compliance and participation. Safety motivation emerged as a key mediator in this relationship. Subjective age did not directly affect safety behaviors but significantly interacted with safety climate and motivation, indirectly shaping safety outcomes. Chronological age showed weaker effects compared to subjective age. By incorporating subjective age into safety research, this study provides novel insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying safety behavior. It emphasizes the need for age-aware interventions and highlights the importance of considering both motivational processes and age-related perceptions in promoting workplace safety, especially in an increasingly age-diverse workforce.