Open Collections

Nkwopara, Chizitara Jackline

University of British Columbia

The construction industry employs millions of workers, yet it continues to report higher work injury rates and mental health (MH) concerns. Increasingly the mental health of construction workers is being recognized as a key issue in supporting healthy working lives and sustainability of the workforce. Young construction workers face a heightened risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) and ergonomic risk factors (ERFs) due to early exposure to physically demanding tasks and workplace stressors. Despite existing research on occupational health risks, the connection between ERFs, musculoskeletal (MS) pain, and mental health in young construction workers remains underexplored. This study aims to assess the prevalence of MS pain, ERFs, and mental health issues among young construction workers in British Columbia through a cross-sectional study. It further investigates the relationship between ERFs and mental health, with MS pain as a potential mediator. A validated self-administered survey was completed by 366 young and early-career construction workers (ages 16–30), to collect data on ergonomic exposures, self-reported pain in nine body regions, and mental health status. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression modelling, were used to evaluate the associations between these factors while controlling for sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Findings reveal a high prevalence of ERFs, poor MH and MS pain among young construction workers. The results indicate a significant association between ergonomic risk factors and adverse mental health outcomes, with workers significantly exposed to ERFs being up to 9 times more likely to report poor mental health compared to those in lower-risk environments. MS pain in the lower back and lower extremities was most frequently reported and strongly correlated with increased psychological distress. MS pain was also found to be a potential mediator in the relationship between ERF and MH. Additionally, social support, experience levels, and trade specialization influenced these associations. Notably, positive supervisor and co-worker relationships substantially reduced the odds of experiencing poor MH by up to 76%.

Text

2025-03-27

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/90547

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/