Nwaogu, J M; Chan, A P C; Sunindijo, R Y; Darko, A; Yang, J Y and Salihu, D (2023) Prevalence and risk factors for poor mental health and suicidal ideation in the Nigerian construction industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 149(3): 05022021, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Employees' mental health and well-being are a growing concern as countries grapple with heightened mental ill-health and suicide rates, with the construction industry ranking in the top five. Drawing from the context of a developing country, particularly Nigeria, data were collected using mixed methods (i.e., survey and postsurvey interview). The study investigated mental health among 382 construction personnel. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) scales were employed in assessing mental health. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation were 55.1%, 16%, 9.8% among supervisors, 72%, 36.9%, and 15.3%, respectively, among tradesmen. Univariate logistic regression revealed that years of experience and organizational structure influence mental health. Multiple logistic regression showed that risk factors for mental ill-health include nature of work, little relationship with colleagues, job insecurity, occupational injury, low income, and unsatisfactory living conditions. The findings from this study will assist in intervention building and policy-making within the construction industry of Nigeria and globally.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | anxiety; depression; stressors; suicidal ideation |
| Index terms: | income, suicide, risk factor, statistics, supervisor, construction industry, mental health, mixed method, depression, logistic regression, Nigeria, well-being, questionnaire, anxiety, living condition, stressors, developing country, interview, injury, organizational structure, construction personnel, drawing, survey |
| Subjects: | practitioner, workforce, data collection methods, mental health and wellbeing, mathematical modelling, economic analysis, technical documentation, Geography, development economics, industry analysis, statistical analysis, environmental hazards, environmental health, sociology, health conditions and diseases |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Human Resources, International Construction, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Health and Safety |
| 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