Hon, C K H; Sun, C; Way, K A; Jimmieson, N L; Xia, B and Biggs, H C (2024) Psychosocial hazards affecting mental health in the construction industry: A qualitative study in Australia. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(8), pp. 3165-3192. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Mental health problems are a grave concern in construction. Although the distinction between high job demands and low job resources, as reflected in the Job Demands-Resources (JD–R) model, has been used to examine the extent to which psychosocial hazards influence mental health for construction practitioners, limited research has reflected on the nature of these psychosocial hazards by exploring experiences of site-based construction practitioners. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a phenomenological approach to examine people' experiences and thoughts of the complex phenomena of psychosocial hazards and mental health in construction. In total, 33 semi-structured interviews were undertaken with site-based construction practitioners in Australia to unveil construction-focused psychosocial hazards and their effects on mental health. The data were analysed via content analysis, employing an interpretation-focused coding strategy to code text and an individual-based sorting strategy to cluster codes. Findings: Eighteen psychosocial hazards were identified based on the JD–R model. Six of these represented a new contribution, describing salient characteristics inherent to the construction context (i.e. safety concerns, exposure to traumatic events, job insecurity, task interdependency, client demand and contract pressure). Of particular importance, a number of interrelationships among psychosocial hazards emerged. Originality/value: The significance of this qualitative research lies in elucidating psychosocial hazards and their complex interrelatedness in the context of the mental health of construction practitioners, enriching the understanding of this central health and safety issue in the high-risk setting of construction work. The findings contribute to addressing mental health issues in the Australian construction industry by identifying higher order control measures, thereby creating a mentally healthy workplace.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Australian construction industry; interview; job demands-resources model; mental health; psychosocial hazards; site-based construction practitioners |
| Index terms: | qualitative study, Australia, construction work, construction industry, job demand, mental health, interview, health and safety, strategy, content analysis, construction practitioner, qualitative research, methodology, exposure |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, operations management, research design and methodology, data collection methods, industry analysis, health conditions and diseases, professional development, health safety and environment, Geography, public and environmental health, research methods, management |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Information Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here