Exploring the relationship between psychological distress and likelihood of help seeking in construction workers: The role of talking to workmates and knowing how to get help.
Mental health
construction industry
men
occupational health
psychological distress
workplace
Journal
Work (Reading, Mass.)
ISSN: 1875-9270
Titre abrégé: Work
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 9204382
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
pubmed:
22
9
2020
medline:
10
6
2021
entrez:
21
9
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Mental health problems are prevalent in male-dominated industries such as construction, where suicide rates are higher than the population average and help seeking is typically low. To examine psychological distress in Australian construction workers and its relationship with help seeking via two hypothesised mediators: confidence in knowing how to get help and confidence in talking to workmates about mental health issues. Workers (N = 511) completed a survey that assessed psychological distress, likelihood of help seeking, and confidence in knowing how to get help and talking to workmates. Bootstrapped multiple mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Psychological distress was higher than national estimates and most prevalent in men aged 25-44. Controlling for age and ability to recognise personal signs of mental health problems, psychological distress negatively predicted likelihood of help seeking. This relationship was partially mediated by knowing how to get help and confidence in talking to workmates. Results highlight the need to redress and mitigate mental health problems among high-risk groups of male workers. It provides useful guidance on multilevel workplace strategies to reduce stigma, enhance confidence and comfort in the process of seeking help and support in construction and other male-dominated industries.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Mental health problems are prevalent in male-dominated industries such as construction, where suicide rates are higher than the population average and help seeking is typically low.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
To examine psychological distress in Australian construction workers and its relationship with help seeking via two hypothesised mediators: confidence in knowing how to get help and confidence in talking to workmates about mental health issues.
METHODS
METHODS
Workers (N = 511) completed a survey that assessed psychological distress, likelihood of help seeking, and confidence in knowing how to get help and talking to workmates. Bootstrapped multiple mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Psychological distress was higher than national estimates and most prevalent in men aged 25-44. Controlling for age and ability to recognise personal signs of mental health problems, psychological distress negatively predicted likelihood of help seeking. This relationship was partially mediated by knowing how to get help and confidence in talking to workmates.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Results highlight the need to redress and mitigate mental health problems among high-risk groups of male workers. It provides useful guidance on multilevel workplace strategies to reduce stigma, enhance confidence and comfort in the process of seeking help and support in construction and other male-dominated industries.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32955473
pii: WOR203251
doi: 10.3233/WOR-203251
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
47-54Commentaires et corrections
Type : ErratumIn