Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism
Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism among nurses. Design A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. Met...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03464-4 |
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| author | Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry Bashair Mohamed Elsayed Abdo Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr Mona Metwally El-Sayed Islam Sameh Abdelhay Mennat-Allah G. Abou Zeid |
| author_facet | Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry Bashair Mohamed Elsayed Abdo Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr Mona Metwally El-Sayed Islam Sameh Abdelhay Mennat-Allah G. Abou Zeid |
| author_sort | Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism among nurses. Design A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. Methods Data were collected from 407 nurses working in two public hospitals in El-Behara Governorate, Egypt, using validated Arabic versions of the Inclusive Leadership Scale, Psychological Safety Scale, and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed to analyze the data using SPSS and AMOS (version 26). Results Inclusive leadership was significantly and negatively associated with implicit absenteeism (r = − 0.207, p = 0.030) and positively associated with psychological safety (r = 0.204, p = 0.036). Psychological safety was also negatively correlated with implicit absenteeism (r = − 0.202, p = 0.041). Regression analysis revealed that both inclusive leadership (β = − 0.098, p = 0.049) and psychological safety (β = − 0.091, p = 0.048) significantly predicted lower implicit absenteeism. Furthermore, SEM results confirmed that psychological safety partially mediated the relationship between inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism (indirect effect β = − 0.010). The model demonstrated an acceptable fit (RMSEA = 0.091; CFI = 1.000; IFI = 1.000; χ² = 9.748, p < 0.001). Conclusion The findings highlight the critical role of inclusive leadership in reducing implicit absenteeism by fostering psychological safety. Promoting inclusive leadership practices and psychologically safe work environments may enhance nurse engagement, reduce presenteeism-related productivity loss, and ultimately improve patient care outcomes. Clinical trial registration Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8947f01e55af47b3b5d97963009a9f9c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-8947f01e55af47b3b5d97963009a9f9c2025-08-20T03:45:24ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-07-0124111110.1186/s12912-025-03464-4Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeismAyman Mohamed El-Ashry0Bashair Mohamed Elsayed Abdo1Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr2Mona Metwally El-Sayed3Islam Sameh Abdelhay4Mennat-Allah G. Abou Zeid5Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria UniversityDepartment of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour UniversityPsychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria UniversityPsychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria UniversityDepartment of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura UniversityNursing Administration Department, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams UniversityAbstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism among nurses. Design A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. Methods Data were collected from 407 nurses working in two public hospitals in El-Behara Governorate, Egypt, using validated Arabic versions of the Inclusive Leadership Scale, Psychological Safety Scale, and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed to analyze the data using SPSS and AMOS (version 26). Results Inclusive leadership was significantly and negatively associated with implicit absenteeism (r = − 0.207, p = 0.030) and positively associated with psychological safety (r = 0.204, p = 0.036). Psychological safety was also negatively correlated with implicit absenteeism (r = − 0.202, p = 0.041). Regression analysis revealed that both inclusive leadership (β = − 0.098, p = 0.049) and psychological safety (β = − 0.091, p = 0.048) significantly predicted lower implicit absenteeism. Furthermore, SEM results confirmed that psychological safety partially mediated the relationship between inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism (indirect effect β = − 0.010). The model demonstrated an acceptable fit (RMSEA = 0.091; CFI = 1.000; IFI = 1.000; χ² = 9.748, p < 0.001). Conclusion The findings highlight the critical role of inclusive leadership in reducing implicit absenteeism by fostering psychological safety. Promoting inclusive leadership practices and psychologically safe work environments may enhance nurse engagement, reduce presenteeism-related productivity loss, and ultimately improve patient care outcomes. Clinical trial registration Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03464-4LeadershipAbsenteeismLatent class analysisPsychological safetyNurses |
| spellingShingle | Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry Bashair Mohamed Elsayed Abdo Mahmoud Abdelwahab Khedr Mona Metwally El-Sayed Islam Sameh Abdelhay Mennat-Allah G. Abou Zeid Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism BMC Nursing Leadership Absenteeism Latent class analysis Psychological safety Nurses |
| title | Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism |
| title_full | Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism |
| title_fullStr | Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism |
| title_short | Mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses’ absenteeism |
| title_sort | mediating effect of psychological safety on the relationship between inclusive leadership and nurses absenteeism |
| topic | Leadership Absenteeism Latent class analysis Psychological safety Nurses |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03464-4 |
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