Nelumdeniya, A U; Perera, B A K S and Gimhani, K D M (2025) Usage of digital technology in improving the mental health of workers on construction sites. Construction Innovation, 25(3), pp. 931-971. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the usage of digital technologies (DTs) in improving the mental health of workers on construction sites. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed research approach was used in the study, which comprised a questionnaire survey and two phases of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to determine the interviewees and respondents of the questionnaire survey. Weighted mean rating (WMR) and manual content analysis were used to rank and evaluate the collected data. Findings: The findings of this study revealed bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, work-related stress and depression as the six most significant mental disorders (MDs) among the construction workforce and 30 causes for them. Moreover, 27 symptoms were related to the six most significant MDs, and sweating was the most significant symptom among them. Despite that, 16 DTs were found to be suitable in mitigating the causes for the most significant MDs. Originality/value: There are numerous studies conducted on the application of DTs to construction operations. However, insufficient studies have been conducted focusing on the application of DTs in improving the mental health of workers at construction sites. This study can thus influence the use of DTs for tackling the common causes for MDs by bringing a new paradigm to the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction sites; construction workers; digital technology; mental disorders; mental health; questionnaire survey |
| Index terms: | depression, construction operation, mental disorder, paradigm, mental health, purposive sampling, construction industry, construction worker, interview, survey, content analysis, construction site, anxiety, questionnaire, methodology, digital technology |
| Subjects: | health conditions and diseases, industry analysis, education and knowledge transfer, work location, data analysis and analytics, mental health and wellbeing, data collection methods, computing systems, research methods, construction operations, practitioner |
| Topics: | Site Management, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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