Problematic internet use and safety behavior: The moderating role of safety climate

literature [50]. Accordingly, in this study, the effect of PIU on safety behavior and also the moderating effect of safety climate on this relationship were investigated. A negative significant relationship between PIU and safety behavior was identified in this study. Similarly, Abubakar and Al-Zyoud [5] investigated the relationship between PIU and safety behavior in the marine sector and found a significant relationship between these two variables. Furthermore, Oktan [51] reported a positive significant relationship between PIU and risk taking behavior among high school students and Guo et al. [52] found that PIU can increase the risk of suicidal behavior. As mentioned before, the effect of PIU on safety behavior can be mediated by cognitive failures. Moreover, PIU is associated with mental problems such as depressive symptoms, stress, and burnout [53]. As some of these problems are associated with poor safety behavior [54], they might be able to mediate the relationship between PIU and safety behavior at workplaces. However, there is a need for more researches in this area. This study recommended safety climate as a way through which the negative effect of PIU on safety behavior can be alleviated. The analyses demonstrated the moderation effect of safety climate on this relationship so that safety climate can relieve the negative effect of PIU on safety behavior. This finding emphasizes that providing a positive safety climate is effective in reducing the effect of newly-emerged issues such as PIU on safety behavior. The finding is in

line with numerous previous studies emphasizing the buffering capacity of a positive safety cli- mate in workplaces [28, 33]. Safety climate is the shared perception and attitude of employees toward safety. There are several factors constituting safety climate including management commitment to safety, supportive environment for safety, safety training, safety procedures, and so on [55, 56]. Improving these dimensions, particularly management commitment to safety, is necessary for creating a safety climate at workplaces. Once such a positive environ- ment is created, the negative impact of PIU on safety behavior can be expected to decrease. In the same vain, Abubakar and Al-Zyoud [5] recommended time autonomy as a factor moderat- ing the effect of PIU on safety behavior. PIU is a huge problem in both personal life and workplaces because it can result in many undesirable outcomes [5, 57]. Moreover, all problems created by PIU have yet to be identified mainly because the pace of technological progress is much faster than researches conducted in this field [57]. PIU should be managed properly nonetheless. Some organizations inhibit the use of mobile and the internet for personal purposes in workplaces, however, organizations have no control over the off-the-job activities of their employees so they may still be affected by the bad consequences of PIU. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been recommended for treating PIU [57] while increasing the knowledge of individuals regarding the adverse side

effects of PIU may be a preventive strategy. Moreover, Davis et al. [58] developed a pre- employment tool for singling out people who are prone to abuse the internet in the work- places. This tool may be used for selecting and employing individuals with less proneness toward PIU. Training regarding the adverse effects of Internet addiction is another counter- measure in this respect [59]. Overall, studies investigating the effect of PIU on safety outcomes in workplaces are rare and more studies are needed in this respect. There are several factors that are able to mediate the effect of PIU on safety behavior, including poor sleep quality and mental disorders stem from PIU. Moreover, the effect of PIU on injuries and occupational accidents needs more researches. Conclusion PIU can negatively affect safety behavior so employers should pay special attention to this sub- ject. Safety climate can attenuate the negative effect of PIU on safety behavior. Strategies for PLOS ONE Problematic internet use and safety behavior PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279767 December 30, 2022 9 / 13