Validation of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) among health and social care workers in the UK

Nicola Cogan*, John Campbell, Liza Morton, David Young, Stephen Porges

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Psychological safety is essential for rest, recovery, and fostering social connections, particularly for health and social care workers (HSCWs) who frequently operate in high-pressure environments. These workers are prone to traumatic stress, which can elevate their sense of threat and undermine their psychological safety. This study aimed to validate the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) among HSCWs in the UK (n = 443). The NPSS is based on polyvagal theory and assesses the dimensions of compassion, social engagement and bodily sensations. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity were examined, along with the scale’s dimensionality. A three-factor structure was confirmed, with internal consistencies ranging from acceptable to excellent across subscales. Validity was supported by significant associations with measures of team psychological safety, well-being, post-traumatic stress, burnout, body perception, and personality. The NPSS also demonstrated strong test–retest reliability. These results validate the NPSS as a reliable and multidimensional tool for assessing psychological safety in health and social care settings. The study highlights the importance of psychological safety for HSCWs and provides a valuable measure to support interventions aimed at fostering safer and more supportive work environments.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1551
Number of pages18
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume21
Issue number12
Early online date23 Nov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • psychological safety
  • polyvagal theory
  • psychometric validation
  • mental health
  • trauma
  • compassionate care
  • trauma-informed care

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Validation of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) among health and social care workers in the UK'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this