What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore how workplace stressors and coping strategies interact to affect mental health disorders in civil engineers.

February 16, 2026Open Access

Interaction Effects of Stressors and Coping Strategies on Mental Health Disorders Among Civil Engineers in Emerging Countries

Key Points

The research aims to explore how workplace stressors and coping strategies interact to affect mental health disorders in civil engineers.
Administered a questionnaire to 491 civil engineers in emerging countries
Included sections on background information, stressors, coping strategies, and DASS-21
Tested four hypotheses using multinomial logistic regression analysis
Project-related stressors are more significant in causing mental health disorders than personal-related attributes
Interaction effects of stressors on mental health disorders are statistically significant
Coping strategies can reduce the negative effects of stressors on mental health, with both positive and negative outcomes observed

Abstract

Owing to the harsh requirements and characteristics of construction projects, such as limited budgets and tight work schedules, construction professionals suffer from various mental health disorders. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects and interaction of work-related stressors and coping mechanisms on the severity of mental health disorders among construction professionals working in emerging countries. Several studies have focused on the correlations between work-related stressors, coping mechanisms, and mental health outcomes (including depression, anxiety, and stress). However, no study has evaluated the interaction effects of stress factors on the severity of mental health disorders among construction professionals nor examined the effectiveness of coping mechanisms enacted to address workplace stressors. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was administered to 491 civil engineers with construction site experience across different emerging countries. The survey included background information, stressor categories, coping mechanisms, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Four hypotheses were developed and tested using multinomial logistic regression analysis. The findings indicate that project-related stressors play a more critical role in triggering mental health disorders than personal-related attributes. Moreover, while certain stressors (managerial, organizational, and mental) do not exhibit significant individual effects, their interaction effects on mental health disorders are statistically significant. The results further reveal that coping strategies can effectively mitigate the impact of work condition-related stressors on depression, anxiety, and stress, although both positive and negative moderating effects are observed. Professional and personalized mental health consulting is therefore recommended to support construction professionals and promote healthier working environments.

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