A new report from CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training shows symptoms of anxiety and depression among construction workers have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among women and workers living in poverty, according to www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com.
CPWR notes anxiety and depression are of particular importance in the construction industry; a 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study concluded male construction workers have one of the highest suicide rates among all industries and are at four times greater risk than the general public.
Using 2011-18 and 2020 data from the National Health Interview Survey, researchers examined self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression among construction workers to find potential patterns and changes amid the pandemic. During the period before the pandemic, the number of construction workers who reported feeling anxious at least once a month rose 20%.
Among a group of nearly 1,300 construction workers surveyed in 2019 and 2020, 43% reported a rise in the level or frequency of anxiety and depression between the two years. Those increased feelings were most prevalent among workers whose family incomes were below the poverty line (61%), female workers (50%) and those ages 18-54 (46%).
The 2020 data shows symptoms of or medication use for anxiety and depression were nearly three times higher for workers who used prescription opioids during the past year (39%) compared with those who did not (14%).
Construction employers are encouraged to reach out to workers and share resources. CPWR offers resources regarding suicide prevention and preventing opioid deaths, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has a webpage regarding stress at work.
