Workplace Psychological Safety and Team Cohesion in Private Hospitals in Rivers State

  ABSTRACT : This study investigated the relationship between workplace psychological safety—comprising inclusion safety, learner safety, and contributor safety—and team cohesion, measured through task cohesion and social cohesion, among employees in private secondary care hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaire administered to a stratified sample of clinical and non-clinical staff. The data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings revealed strong and statistically significant positive correlations between all three dimensions of psychological safety and both components of team cohesion. Learner safety showed the highest correlation with task and social cohesion, indicating that when employees feel safe to learn, make mistakes, and grow, team collaboration and interpersonal relationships are greatly enhanced. The study emphasizes the critical role of psychological safety in fostering cohesive, high-performing teams within healthcare environments. It recommends the integration of psychological safety practices into hospital leadership, communication, and staff development strategies to enhance teamwork and organizational performance.

KEYWORDS: Psychological safety, inclusion safety, learner safety, contributor safety, team cohesion, task cohesion, social cohesion.