Predicting project performance from occupational stress, psychological availability and ethical leadership: moderated-mediation and mediated-moderation models

Purpose This study, respectively, explored the mediating and moderating influences of psychological availability and ethical leadership on the relationship between occupational stress and project performance among construction workers in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Employing partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4, this quantitative cross-sectional study analysed survey data from 677 construction project workers who were recruited through simple random sampling technique. Findings The results demonstrate that occupational stress negatively predicts both project performance and psychological availability of construction project workers. Psychological availability and ethical leadership mediate and moderate the stress-project performance relationship, respectively. Practical implications The findings suggest that ethical leadership and attention to psychological well-being are key to managing occupational stress and enhancing project performance in high-stress environments like construction. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of occupational stress in project management by integrating psychological and leadership factors through conservation of resource theory, social exchange theory and the job demands-resources model.