A Bibliometric and Systematic Review of Workplace Psychological Safety: Trends, Gaps, and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Introduction/ Background- In today’s complex organizational environments, employees are expected to share ideas and innovate, often facing interpersonal risks when challenging established norms. Psychological safety enables individuals to speak without fear of negative consequences, fostering trust, open communication, learning, collaboration, inclusion, and a sense of belonging at work. Objective- The primary objective of this study is to conduct a bibliometric and systematic review of psychological safety research, identifying major trends, influential authors and journals, thematic developments, research gaps, and future research directions. Methods- A bibliometric and systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus data, applying citations, co-authorship, co-citations, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Results- The results indicated a significant increase in research on workplace psychological safety, particularly after 2017, demonstrating growing scholarly attention. Publications are mainly concentrated in developed countries, especially the USA and China. Core themes, such as leadership, creativity, and organizational behavior, are well developed, while several emerging areas remain underexplored. Conclusion- Although the field of psychological safety shows strong growth, it remains underdeveloped in terms of theoretical integration and empirical depth. Future studies should focus on theory building, robust research designs, and investigations across diverse organizational and cultural contexts to strengthen the evidence base.