Construction workers' depression, anxiety, stress, and risk factors in China: a cross-sectional study

Frontline construction workers are generally faced with risk factors such as alcoholism, smoking, and being far away from home, which pose a great threat to their mental health. However, this issue has not yet attracted significant attention form the global community. For this reason, we examined depression, anxiety, and stress levels among construction workers in China and identified their key risk factors, such as education, occupational tenure, geographical mobility, physical well-being, COVID-19 status, insomnia, and alcohol dependency.

We conducted an online survey using validated scales, including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index Scale, Alcohol Dependence Scale, Family-work Conflict Scale, Leadership Support Scale, Workplace Exclusion Scale, and Proactive Personality Scale.

We analysed 912 valid responses (790 males, 122 females; mean age = 36.35 years (standard deviation = 10.11). Depression, anxiety, and stress levels were significantly influenced by age, education, work-related injuries, COVID-19 status, insomnia, alcohol dependence, workplace exclusion, and work-family conflict among construction workers (all P-values < 0.05). The regression analysis showed that work-family conflict, workplace exclusion, alcohol dependence, and insomnia were positively associated with depression (P < 0.001), while proactive personality and leadership support were negatively associated with depression (all P-values <0.05). Similarly, physical health, workplace exclusion, alcohol dependence, and insomnia were positively associated with anxiety (all P-values <0.001). Additionally, having a proactive personality negatively influenced depression (P < 0.001). Anxiety positively predicted physical health issues (P < 0.001), workplace exclusion (P < 0.001), alcohol dependence (P < 0.001), and insomnia (P < 0.001), whereas leadership support reduced anxiety levels (P = 0.01).

Mental health risks among construction workers are linked to work and personal factors, including insomnia, alcohol dependence, workplace exclusion, and work-family conflict. Employers should implement targeted interventions to improve the work environment, leadership support, and social support systems to enhance the workers' mental well-being.