Supporting apprentices’ safety-related communication confidence, behaviour and mental health: a digital role playing game

Purpose Effective communication with supervisors is critical to young and inexperienced workers’ health and safety (H&S). However, few studies focus on trialling training interventions designed to improve H&S-related communication skills. This study explores the way in which a digital role playing game (RPG) influenced H&S-related communication confidence, behaviour and the mental health of Australian construction apprentices. In particular, two different change pathways were explored to understand the mechanisms through which an RPG can influence outcomes of interest. Design/methodology/approach A pre- and post-test design was used. 189 apprentices completed a baseline survey before participating in a 45-minute facilitated session in which they played the RPG and then completed a follow-up survey four weeks later. Paired samples t-tests tested for direct effects of the intervention and mixed-effects regression modelling investigated whether the intervention moderated pre-existing relationships in the data. Findings A comparison of pre- and post-test mean scores for key dependent variables, i.e. H&S communication confidence, communication behaviour and mental health revealed no direct changes, potentially due to a strong ceiling effect in the baseline data. However, the mixed-effects regression analysis indicated that exposure to the digital RPG training materials strengthened the relationships between aspects of the apprentices’ H&S communication confidence and their safety voice and safety citizenship behaviours, as well as their mental health. Practical implications In providing apprentices with an opportunity to learn and practise communication skills, the results suggest that digital role play-based training has the potential to increase the transfer of these skills into improved H&S communication behaviour in the workplace. Practising communication in an RPG environment may also strengthen the relationship between feeling confident about the ability to communicate and mental health in young and/or inexperienced workers. However, the lack of an observed direct effect suggests that this form of training should not be relied on as the only training method available to apprentices. Originality/value The research evaluated a novel digital RPG developed to improve young workers’ H&S communication confidence, communication behaviour and mental health. These are all areas in which young workers are known to be vulnerable. The results revealed that benefits associated with exposure to digital role play-based training reflected an amplification of pre-existing positive relationships, rather than direct attitudinal or behaviour change.