The impact of digital leadership on safety performance – a moderated mediation model

<i>Objectives.</i> In light of the profound influence of digital advancements on business management, digital leadership has emerged as an indispensable element for organizations to effectively navigate this transformative wave. While the influence of traditional leadership on safety performance has been extensively scrutinized, the impact of digital leadership on safety performance has regrettably been overlooked. Drawing from the job demand-resource model, this study analyzes the influence of digital leadership on safety performance, encompassing safety compliance and safety participation. Additionally, the study explores the mediating role of challenge appraisal and the moderating effect of role overload. <i>Methods and Results</i>. Using data from 341 employees at two time points, this study finds that: digital leadership promotes employees' safety performance; digital leadership enhances employees' safety performance by fostering challenge appraisal; and the positive effect of digital leadership on employees' safety performance through challenge appraisal diminishes as role overload increases. <i>Conclusions</i>. The findings of this study contribute to the existing body of literature concerning the antecedents of safety performance. Additionally, this study offers practical recommendations for enhancing employees' safety performance in the digital era.