Connecting the dots: psychosocial safety climate, job stress, burnout and depression in public universities in China

Purpose Burnout and depression are rising global concerns that significantly impact professionals, particularly in academia. In China, where academic staff form one of the largest educators worldwide, these issues are increasingly prevalent. This study investigates the effects of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) on burnout and depression among academic staff in Chinese top ten public universities. It also examines the mediating role of job stress in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a purposive sampling method to survey 600 academic staff from the top ten public universities in China using an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS. Findings These findings revealed that PSC is negatively associated with both job stress and burnout among academic staff in Chinese public universities. Job stress mediates the relationship between PSC and burnout, which, in turn, is positively related to depression. These findings stress the importance of PSC in mitigating burnout and enhancing mental health in academic settings. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, no study has been conducted to investigate the impact of PSC on burnout and depression, specifically within the context of Chinese public universities. Incorporating PSC into the job demands-resources (JD-R) model offers new understandings of how PSC can reduce job stress and burnout, addressing the challenges of the Chinese academic context, where high job demands and significant organizational support are prominent.