The Potential for Workplaces to Provide Social Support for Distressed Infrastructure Workers

Langdon, Rebecca R.; Bradley, Lisa; Newton, Cameron J.; Sawang, Sukanlaya

Abstract

Infrastructure workers experience high rates of psychological distress and suicide. Social capital (e.g., co-workers, friends, family) and social support (e.g., emotional, practical, informational) help to minimize distress. This study explores how social capital and social support contribute to psychological distress and if accessing social capital to provide social support is different for distressed compared to non-distressed workers. A sample of 220 infrastructure workers recruited online from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America was used. The study explored social capital (sum and diversity) along with social support and who the workers would approach first for each type of social support. It found that increased social capital was associated with higher distress, whereas lower social support was associated with higher distress. The primary contribution of this research indicates that although distressed infrastructure workers have more social capital available, they may not be obtaining the necessary social support needed from their networks. Also, as some distressed workers indicated they approach work colleagues to receive some types of social support, there may be an opportunity for workplaces to provide social support to co-workers to alleviate the gap in support and help improve psychological well-being.

Citation

Langdon, R. R., Bradley, L., Newton, C. J., & Sawang, S. (2024). The Potential for Workplaces to Provide Social Support for Distressed Infrastructure Workers. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 150(12), https://doi.org/10.1061/jcemd4.coeng-14690

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 2, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 24, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-12
• Deposit Date: Dec 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 4, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0733-9364
• Electronic ISSN: 1943-7862
• Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 150
• Issue: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/jcemd4.coeng-14690