Analysis and comparison of web searches in Google Trends in the business and industrial category for the word’s “resilience” and “wellbeing" during COVID-19

Abstract

Objective The comparison of Google internet searches for worker wellbeing and resilience during COVID has not previously been undertaken. It is important to understand interest in wellbeing and resilience as both constructs influence health and burnout. Our objective to investigate internet interest in both wellbeing and resilience during COVID. Using Google Trends, data on global search English word queries we compared “worker wellbeing” or “wellbeing” versus “resilience” or “psychological resilience”. Two time periods were compared, the last 5 years and the last 12 months, both up until the end of April 2022. The relationship between web search interest, reflected by search volume index (SVI) for all categories versus the business and industrial category evaluated. Results Open category searches on Google trends for the key words “worker wellbeing” or “wellbeing” demonstrated increased SVI peaks for COVID periods. Sub-group analyses demonstrated the category business and industrial had less web search interest in wellbeing and an increase in search terms related to resilience but not psychological resilience. Online interest in wellbeing and resilience represents a complex search metric. There are differing search interests depending on whether the category business and industrial is chosen versus the general Google Trends category.

Global google trends for construction demonstrate low search volume index for stress, mental and suicide

“…The internet is a common source of online wellbeing information and solutions for industry and human resources. For example, we have previously shown an increase in resilience searches during COVID in the industrial and business category in Google trends [ 9 ]. Indeed, interest in online web searching for construction workers mental health, stress and suicide can be assessed by popular web search engines, such as Google [ 9 ].…”

“…For example, we have previously shown an increase in resilience searches during COVID in the industrial and business category in Google trends [ 9 ]. Indeed, interest in online web searching for construction workers mental health, stress and suicide can be assessed by popular web search engines, such as Google [ 9 ]. Analysis of these trend data could allow for observing interest in search topics relevant to interventions or understanding factors that affect mental wellbeing in construction.…”