Kamardeen, I (2022) Work stress related cardiovascular diseases among construction professionals. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 12(2), pp. 223-242. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for one-third of global deaths. Work stress is a major risk factor for CVDs in the workforce. Construction professionals endure excessive work stress, yet their vulnerability to CVDs remains underexplored. The study investigated the prevalence of CVDs among construction professionals and its relationships to job stressors, stress coping methods and socio-demographics. An online survey was conducted among construction professionals in Australia wherein data related to job stressor experiences, stress management methods adopted, and incidents of CVDs were collected. Structural path analysis was conducted to discover associations. Junior level professionals reported higher incidents of angina and heart muscle weakening than others. Statistically significant positive associations were discovered between the reported CVDs, and job stressors such as excessive workload, unpredictable work hours, lack of support, discrimination and work-life conflict and negative stress coping methods such as consuming alcohol and/or drugs, emotional eating and aggression. However, no evidence was found to support the claim that demographic factors such as age and gender were also risk factors for CVDs. The workers' compensation system provides financial protection to injured employees. It extends similar protection for work-related illnesses; however, it is more difficult to prove work-related causes for illnesses. The study provides scientific evidence to support the recognition of CVDs among construction professionals as work-related diseases, mediated by work stress.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction professionals; work stress; cardiovascular diseases; path analysis; Australia; occupational stress; sociodemographics; cardiovascular disease; workload; occupational health |
| Index terms: | illness, occupational health, workload, Australia, sociodemographics, survey, occupational stres, work stress, stressors, path analysis, cardiovascular disease, alcohol, compensation, demographics, heart, discrimination, vulnerability, management method, evidence, risk factor, demographic factor, coping, construction professional |
| Subjects: | dispute resolution, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, health monitoring assessment and metrics, psychology, professional development, Geography, medical science and clinical practice, management, statistical analysis, behavioral psychology, environmental hazards, professional ethics, health conditions and diseases, occupational health and safety management, demography |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Legal Issues, Urban Studies, 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