Mental Health in Construction Industry: A Global Review
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Identifying and Classifying the Risk Factors That Affect the Mental Health of Construction Workforce
3.1.1. Diversity and Equity Risk Factors (DR)
ID | Risk Factor | Description | Source | Frequency | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DR1 | Gender inequality | Men have more opportunities for advancement and are treated more fairly than women. | [21,22] | 29 | 1 |
DR2 | Sexual Harassment | Female workers experience many types of harassment, including sexual, verbal, and physical assault. | [23,24] | 25 | 2 |
DR3 | Limited job opportunities for women | Limited job opportunities hinder career growth for female construction workers. | [22,28] | 22 | 3 |
DR4 | Language barriers | Language barriers prevent effective communication with supervisors and colleagues. | [26,27] | 15 | 4 |
DR5 | Racial discrimination | Racial discrimination is prevalent on construction sites. | [5,16] | 9 | 5 |
DR6 | Age discrimination | Younger workers face significant challenges in construction workplaces. | [2,29] | 5 | 6 |
DR7 | Cultural value conflicts | Conflicts arise from differences in cultural values. | [1,26] | 2 | 7 |
3.1.2. Health-Related Risk Factors (HR)
ID | Risk Factor | Description | Source | Frequency | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HR1 | Poor working environment | Environments that are not ergonomically designed, lack adequate lighting, are not clean, or have other physical deficiencies | [2,5] | 24 | 1 |
HR2 | Ill-fitting PPE | PPE that does not fit properly and has the potential to cause discomfort, physical strain, and injury | [25,28] | 21 | 2 |
HR3 | Occupational injuries | Injuries that occur as a direct result of job-related activities, including accidents, falls, cuts, and other physical harm | [30,32] | 18 | 3 |
HR4 | Musculoskeletal pain | Muscle, nerve, tendon, joint, or spinal disc injuries or pain caused by repetitive strain or overuse | [33,34] | 11 | 4 |
HR5 | Personal traumas | Emotional or psychological injuries resulting from accidents, violence, or loss, which affect an individual’s mental health | [8,35] | 5 | 5 |
HR6 | Poor medical services | Lack of adequate medical services | [5,29] | 2 | 6 |
3.1.3. Job-Demand Risk Factors (JR)
3.1.4. Organizational Risk Factors (OR)
ID | Risk Factor | Description | Source | Frequency | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OR1 | Poor work-life balance | An excessive amount of time and effort is devoted to professional responsibilities at the expense of personal commitments | [47,48] | 41 | 1 |
OR2 | Low job control | Lack of decision-making opportunities | [20,33] | 33 | 2 |
OR3 | Lack of environment that promotes career development | Environment that lacks opportunities and/or support for career development and promotions | [29,50] | 27 | 3 |
OR4 | Low job support | Lack of sufficient support from supervisors and colleagues | [30,52] | 25 | 4 |
OR5 | Procedural prejudice | Inequitable decision-making processes | [36,54] | 19 | 5 |
OR6 | Lack of recognition | Inadequate rewards or recognition of employee accomplishments | [55,56] | 14 | 6 |
OR7 | Job insecurity | Lack of job stability | [41,49] | 11 | 7 |
OR8 | Inadequate freedom of expression | Limited opportunities to express thoughts, opinions, or ideas freely and openly | [50,57] | 7 | 8 |
OR9 | Lack of training | Lack of job training | [17,25] | 4 | 9 |
OR10 | Lack of feedback | Lack of feedback on improving performance | [11,58] | 3 | 10 |
OR11 | Poor communication | Lack of or unclear communication among project teams | [40,59] | 2 | 11 |
OR12 | Lack of human resources | Shortage of project team members/workers | [8,60] | 2 | 12 |
3.1.5. Personal Factors (PR)
3.2. Strategies to Improve the Mental Health of a Construction Workforce
ID | Strategies | Risk Factors | Prevention Type | Directed Level | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S1 | Develop policies to eliminate harassment and bullying. | DR2 | Primary | I, O | [60] |
S2 | Implement policies to promote equality regardless of gender, age, and race. | DR1, DR6, DR7, DR8 | Primary | I, O | [30] |
S3 | Provide resources for assistance in coping with stressors such as financial, marital, and family issues. | PR6, PR7 | Tertiary | I | [18] |
S4 | Offer workplace training opportunities. | OR7, OR9 | Secondary | O | [39] |
S5 | Promote prompt resolution of workplace conflicts. | JR4 | Secondary | O | [54] |
S6 | Implement measures to enhance cooperation between supervisors and subordinates. | OR4, PR3 | Primary | I, O | [69] |
S7 | Foster strong workplace relationships. | OR4 | Primary | I, O | [70] |
S8 | Redesign tasks to reduce interdependency. | JR7 | Secondary | I | [71] |
S9 | Streamline tasks and shifts. | JR1 | Primary | I | [26] |
S10 | Hire more personnel to reduce individual workloads. | JR1, OR12 | Primary | O | [20] |
S11 | Provide counseling or other tools for managing mental health problems. | OR7 | Tertiary | O | [68] |
S12 | Provide workers with constructive feedback. | OR10, PR9 | Secondary | I | [46] |
S13 | Provide a supportive physical working environment. | HR1, HR2 | Primary | O | [72] |
S14 | Provide opportunities for employees to express their opinions and participate in decision-making. | OR2, OR8 | Secondary | I | [66] |
S15 | Provide opportunities for growth and promotion at work. | DR3 | Primary | I | [4] |
S16 | Provide opportunities for workers to utilize their abilities and skills. | JR5 | Primary | I | [73] |
S17 | Provide clear instructions, information, and work objectives. | JR2, JR3 | Primary | O | [9] |
S18 | Implement a fair decision-making process. | OR5 | Primary | O | [10] |
S19 | Provide adequate materials and equipment for performing assigned tasks. | DR4 | Primary | O | [26] |
S20 | Promote cordial relationships with coworkers. | PR1, PR5 | Primary | I, O | [69] |
S21 | Offer fair and adequate compensation. | PR6 | Primary | O | [10] |
S22 | Provide opportunities for rewards and recognition. | OR6, PR9 | Primary | O | [53] |
S23 | Foster a flexible work environment. | OR1 | Primary | I, O | [74] |
S24 | Encourage open and transparent communication between team members. | OR11 | Primary | I, O | [75] |
S25 | Implement better recruitment strategies. | DR1 | Primary | O | [56] |
S26 | Increase opportunities for career development. | OR3 | Primary | O | [42] |
S27 | Encourage task prioritization. | JR6 | Primary | I, O | [70] |
S28 | Offer resources and support for managing stress. | JR8 | Secondary | O | [43] |
S29 | Implement a thorough contract review process. | JR10 | Primary | O | [76] |
S30 | Provide training on effective communication skills. | JR9, DR5 | Primary | O | [77] |
S31 | Offer access to employee assistance programs. | PR2, PR8 | Secondary | O | [78] |
S32 | Offer education and awareness programs. | PR4 | Primary | O | [5,79] |
4. Implications
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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ID | Risk Factor | Description | Source | Frequency | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JR1 | Work overload | Heavy workload demands that require working under pressure at a rapid pace for extended periods of time | [5,36] | 32 | 1 |
JR2 | Role ambiguity | Ill-defined job duties | [27,38] | 27 | 2 |
JR3 | Role conflict | Assignment of incompatible tasks | [38,39] | 25 | 3 |
JR4 | Interpersonal conflict | Tensions and disagreements between employees in the workplace | [19,40] | 20 | 4 |
JR5 | Work underload | Underutilization of skills, boring and repetitive work | [41,42] | 16 | 5 |
JR6 | Task interdependency | Two or more tasks that depend on one another to complete a goal | [2,43] | 13 | 6 |
JR7 | Cognitive demands | Work demands that require high levels of cognitive vigilance and alertness | [44,45] | 7 | 7 |
JR8 | Emotional demands | Work demands that require dealing with people in different interpersonal contexts | [44,46] | 4 | 8 |
JR9 | Client demand | Clients’ expectations and requirements pertaining to project costs and schedules | [36] | 1 | 9 |
JR10 | Contract pressure | Stress induced by contractual obligations | [36] | 1 | 10 |
ID | Risk Factor | Description | Source | Frequency | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PR1 | Lack of social support | Poor social interaction with co-workers, friends, and family | [5,61] | 22 | 1 |
PR2 | Type A behavior | Type A behavior is manifested in competitive, aggressive, and time-driven actions. | [29,62] | 18 | 2 |
PR3 | Problem(s) with superior | Poor relationship with supervisor | [12,63] | 13 | 3 |
PR4 | Alcohol and drug use | Substance use caused by job-related physical illnesses and/or stress | [64] | 11 | 4 |
PR5 | Social isolation | The feeling of being alone or disconnected from others | [31,59] | 6 | 5 |
PR6 | Financial insecurity | Fears regarding inadequate income | [35,37] | 4 | 6 |
PR7 | Marital Status | Stress based on relationship problems | [16,30] | 4 | 7 |
PR8 | Family conflicts | Disputes or strained relationships with family | [35,43] | 3 | 8 |
PR9 | Loss of control | The degree to which individuals perceive the relationship between their personal actions and outcomes | [27,54] | 2 | 9 |
PR10 | Fear of failure | Fear of experiencing negative outcomes | [51,55] | 2 | 10 |
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Pamidimukkala, A.; Kermanshachi, S.; Almaskati, D.N. Mental Health in Construction Industry: A Global Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 802. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050802
Pamidimukkala A, Kermanshachi S, Almaskati DN. Mental Health in Construction Industry: A Global Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(5):802. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050802
Chicago/Turabian StylePamidimukkala, Apurva, Sharareh Kermanshachi, and Deema Nabeel Almaskati. 2025. "Mental Health in Construction Industry: A Global Review" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 5: 802. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050802
APA StylePamidimukkala, A., Kermanshachi, S., & Almaskati, D. N. (2025). Mental Health in Construction Industry: A Global Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(5), 802. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050802