Lim, H W and Francis, V (2023) A conceptual model of cognitive and behavioral processes affecting mental health in the construction industry: A systematic review. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 149(11): 04023114, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Mental health in the construction industry has gained increasing attention in academic research. However, previous studies have largely focused on selective mental health issues, thus limiting a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical underpinnings in this field of study. This study presents a systematic review of previous studies on mental health in the construction industry, focusing on explanatory theories and identifying the cognitive and behavioral processes that affect mental health in the construction industry. A three-stage approach was employed to identify 163 relevant articles that met the inclusion criteria for the review. Following the grounded theory, this review synthesized theories and findings to develop a model explaining the cognitive and behavioral processes affecting mental health among construction workers. The review revealed that work and life demands and resources derived from strain theories and work-life balance theories had been the focus of previous research. Meanwhile, knowledge of coping mechanisms had generally been understudied. By integrating motivation and masculinity theories, the proposed model extends the understanding of coping mechanisms consisting of coping belief, coping motivation, and coping behavior, illustrating how masculine norms in the construction industry influence coping responses for mental health. The model lays a solid theoretical foundation for a comprehensive understanding of how cognitive and behavioral processes affect mental health in the construction industry, thus providing a valuable reference for future research. Theoretical and practical implications and future research directions are also discussed.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | coping; masculinity; mental health; stressors; systematic review |
| Index terms: | grounded theory, norms, systematic literature review, construction industry, construction worker, motivation, work-life balance, masculinity, coping, mental health, stressors |
| Subjects: | practitioner, management, health conditions and diseases, theoretical framing, sociology, research evaluation and metrics, behavioral psychology, industry analysis, psychology |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Research Practice |
| 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