Impact of organizational culture on employee psychological safety perception: The pivotal role of trust in top management across 18 societies

Dheer R.J.S.; Terpstra-Tong J.; Treviño L.; Ralston D.A.; Tjemkes B.; Paparella L.S.; Crowley-Henry M.; Burns C.; Froese F.; Poeschl G.; Morales O.; Szabo E.; Fu P.; Srinivasan N.; Molteni M.; Butt A.; Furrer O.; Darder F.L.; Kangasniemi-Haapala M.; Dharmasiri A.S.; Alas R. · International Business Review (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2025.102523

Resumen

We assess the impact of organizational culture on employees' psychological safety using data from 2451 employees across 18 societies. Our multi-level structural equation models reveal that organizations that emphasize a clan culture foster significantly higher psychological safety than those that emphasize a hierarchy culture, and trust in top management mediates the effect of organizational culture on psychological safety. Additionally, macro-environmental factors, specifically a society's cultural context and governance quality, moderate the effect of trust in top management, explaining variance in psychological safety globally. Our findings make a novel contribution to the literature on psychological safety, international management, and organizational behavior. We outline vital implications for managers and provide directions for future research.

Instituciones: Universidad ESAN