Psychological distress and suicidal ideation among male construction workers in the United States

Abstract

Background: Male workers in the US construction industry have a higher suicide rate than other workers in the nation. However, related research on this population remains sparse. This study evaluated psychological distress and suicidal ideation in these workers, and possible underlying factors. Methods: Data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health from 2008 to 2014 were analyzed. Stratified and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with psychological distress and suicidal ideation among male construction workers aged ≥18 years (n = 12,034).Results: Nearly one-third (29.6%) of male construction workers in the United States experienced psychological distress (23.8% graded as moderate, 5.8% as severe), and 2.5% reported suicidal ideation in the past year. Higher odds of serious psychological distress and suicidal ideation were found among workers who were younger, worked part-time, missed workdays due to injury or illness, or were in poor health. Illicit opioid use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.89) and alcohol dependence or abuse (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.74-3.99) significantly escalated the odds of suicidal ideation. The odds of suicidal ideation among workers with serious psychological distress were 33 times higher than those having no or minor psychological distress (OR = 32.91, 95% CI: 19.82-54.65) when other factors were constant.Conclusions: Occupational and nonoccupational factors were associated with constructionworkers' psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Both illicit opioid use and alcohol dependence or abuse were risk factors, and psychological distress was a strong predictor for suicidal ideation. To improve workers' mental health, it is necessary to integrate workplace injury prevention with illicit opioid-use reduction programs and suicide prevention.

Prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt among male construction industry workers in Ireland

“…Moreover, male CIWs in Ireland had higher prevalence rates compared to a number of other population groups. For example, SI rates were higher among male CIWs in Ireland compared to those reported for CIWs in previous studies over similar time periods of twelve months (25) and two weeks when using item nine of the PHQ-9 as the primary outcome measure for SI (26). While there is no comparable data for NSSI or SA among CIWs in the wider literature, our ndings indicate that the lifetime prevalence rate for NSSI is consistent with international data (44) but the lifetime SA rate among male CIWs in Ireland is considerable higher (21).…”

“…There is a dearth of research exploring the prevalence and associated factors of SI, NSSI and SA among male CIWs. Three studies have explored SI among CIWs and reported prevalence rates of between 2.5% − 12% (25,26). An additional study on SI among construction industry apprentices reported a twelvemonth prevalence rate of 29.4% (27).…”

Does family incivility trigger suicidal ideation? The role of emotional exhaustion at work and regulation of emotion

“…The study aims to ascertain whether FI aggravates SI through EE and ROE by adopting conservation of resources (COR) (Hobfoll, 1989) and interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS) (Orden et al, 2010). This study implies that FI spills over to the workplace and aggravates EE (Lim and Tai, 2014), enhancing the urge to SI (Dong et al, 2022). As per IPTS (Orden et al, 2010), professionals who are the victims of FI and experience EE are deprived of belongingness needs.…”

25‐Year fatal workplace suicide trends in North Carolina: 1992–2017

“…7 Research at the national and international levels have indicated specific industries may be more vulnerable to suicide or suicide ideation, including first responders, 8 agriculture, 9 and construction. 10 In addition to the psychological impact on the employees, families, and communities of the person who died by suicide, workplace suicides incur a significant economic cost due to medical, legal, and lost earnings due to premature mortality. 11,12 In North Carolina (NC), prior studies that have investigated fatal occupational injuries have often focused on deaths due to homicide and unintentional injury, but did not report on the incidence of suicides at work.…”

“…The number of workplace fatalities by suicide reached the highest level on record in 2019 (the most recent year for which data are available) 7 . Research at the national and international levels have indicated specific industries may be more vulnerable to suicide or suicide ideation, including first responders, 8 agriculture, 9 and construction 10 . In addition to the psychological impact on the employees, families, and communities of the person who died by suicide, workplace suicides incur a significant economic cost due to medical, legal, and lost earnings due to premature mortality 11,12 …”