Psychological Safety and Perceived Stress Among IT Professionals

Abstract

The rapid evolution of the IT industry has intensified workplace stress, necessitating a deeper understanding of factors influencing employee well-being. Psychological safety, the shared belief that individuals can express themselves without fear of negative consequences, is critical in mitigating stress. Perceived stress reflects an individual’s appraisal of stressful situations. This study examines the relationship between psychological safety and perceived stress among IT professionals, exploring sex differences in these variables, and investigates the role of psychological safety in perceived stress. Data was collected from 121 IT professionals using the Psychological Safety Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale. Pearson Correlation and t-tests were employed for analysis. Results indicate a significant negative correlation between psychological safety and perceived stress. No significant sex differences were found in psychological safety or perceived stress. Additionally, perceived stress was higher among IT professionals with low psychological safety. These findings underscore the importance of fostering psychologically safe workplaces to enhance employee well-being.