Bailey, Brian T (2025) Understanding workplace stigma and coping strategies among those living with chronic migraine in the construction industry. PhD thesis, Liberty University, USA.
Abstract
Although a neurological condition, the cause of migraines is poorly understood. The problem is that the factors contributing to the stress and stigma associated with chronic migraine in the construction workplace are not well known. To address this problem, this qualitative case study explored what factors contribute to the stress and stigma associated with chronic migraine in the workplace in the specific context of the construction industry. The study asked the following: (a) How do workers living with chronic migraines experience and navigate associated migraine stigma in their workplace (e.g., cultural norms and disclosure)?, (b) What do workers living with chronic migraine identify as factors that contribute to migraine symptom severity (e.g., environments, occupational, and interpersonal factors)?, and (c) How do workers living with chronic migraines cope with stigma and factors contributing to migraine severity (e.g., well-being, job performance, and quality of life)? The sample consisted of 14 workers from any occupation or role within the U.S. construction industry who have experienced chronic migraines. Data was collected through one-on-one, semi-structured interviews via Zoom. This study explored how construction workers with chronic migraines navigate workplace cultures of stigma, silence, and inconsistent support in the construction industry. Key findings included migraine's disruption in daily life functioning, cultural norms of non-disclosure that discouraged help-seeking behaviors. Participants in this study offered visions for structural change, highlighting an urgent need for more inclusive policies, empathetic leadership, and deeper recognition for disabilities that often go unnoticed in labor environments.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Mims, Bethany D |
| Index terms: | case study, construction industry, construction worker, coping, occupation, strategy, quality of life, interview, disability, norms, well-being |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, mental health and wellbeing, management, public and environmental health, industry analysis, sociology, health conditions and diseases, practitioner, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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