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This systematic review studied the links between psychological safety climate (PSC) on mental health in the construction industry.

71 studies included.

Key findings:

·        42 mental health causation factors were identified

·        High job demand was the most significant contributor, followed by interpersonal relationships, low job control, low job support, and physical status

·        High job demand was found to contribute to three of the four PSC areas

·        “organisation participation factors have been the major areas of focus, while management commitment and management priority are under-researched areas”

·        “the four categories of psychological climate are inextricably interconnected, all four categories collectively contributed to the PSC of construction organisations. That also means that each of the categories is significant and having poor performance in one of them would lead to failure of an organisation’s PSC”

·        “The construction industry is highly restricted by the timeframes agreed to in contracts and so professionals involved in the process frequently work on the weekends or overtime to deliver projects on-time”

·        “In an analysis of the Australian work–life index by industry, the second highest industry with imbalance in work–life was the construction industry, only after public administration and safety”

·        “Lingard and Francis [ 95] found that, among the different professions working in construction organisations, site-based construction professionals worked longer hours and experienced a higher burnout level than their colleagues working in the head office”

·        “Conflicts in interpersonal relationships in the construction workplace can range from momentary disagreements and disrespectful behaviours from co-workers or supervisors to heated argument”

·        “Job control and job support are significantly important in protecting construction workers from stress [105 ]. However, tasks (like many on-site works) that are characterised by low levels of autonomy and authority diminish workers’ perceptions of their influence over the work, therefore producing mental problems”

·        Also low levels of decision authority are linked as major predictors of early retirement

·        “On the other hand, studies like [107 ] identified that construction workers with high job control and in a highly supportive environment are less likely to encounter an increased risk of developing MH problems”

·        “According to the Job Demand-Control-Support .. model, occupations that are simultaneously high in demands, and low in support and control are perceived as the most stressful occupations and could lead to the most damaging health outcomes”

·        “Physically demanding activities are typical on construction sites and often lead to physical and mental fatigue of workers”

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Ref: Golzad, H., Teimoory, A., Mousavi, S. J., Bayramova, A., & Edwards, D. J. (2023). Buildings, 13(10), 2442.

Study link: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102442

LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/benhutchinson2_this-systematic-review-studied-the-links-activity-7320277845820194816-Fe04?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAeWwekBvsvDLB8o-zfeeLOQ66VbGXbOpJU