Autonomous versus controlled safety motivations: Examining the distinct influences on construction workers’ safety behaviors and the moderating effect of role identity

Safety motivation is comprised of two distinct components: autonomous safety motivation and controlled safety motivation. Despite the significance of this dichotomy, the bulk of prior research has primarily focused on the overall influence of safety motivation on construction workers’ safety behavior. Limited attention has been paid to examining the differential impacts of these two types of safety motivation on the workers’ safety behavior within this context. The objective of the present study was to individually assess the impact of autonomous safety motivation versus controlled safety motivation on workers’ safety behavior, and delve into the moderating effect of role identity on these relationships. Data were collected from 333 Chinese construction workers via questionnaire survey. Subsequently, structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the direct effect of safety motivation on safety behavior, while hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) was employed to assess the moderating effect of role identity on these relationships. The findings of the study revealed the following: (1) Autonomous safety motivation had a beneficial impact on workers' safety compliance and safety participation; (2) Controlled safety motivation exerted a positive influence on workers' safety participation; and (3) Role identity functioned as a moderator in the relationships between autonomous safety motivation and workers' safety compliance, as well as in the associations between controlled safety motivation and both workers' safety compliance and safety participation. By disentangling the autonomous and controlled components of safety motivation and considering the moderating role of role identity, this study enhances the comprehension of the intricate relationship between safety motivation and the safety behavior of construction workers.