Citation

Borsting Jacobsen H, Caban-Martinez AJ, Onyebeke LC, Sorensen G, Dennerlein JT, Endresen Reme S. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2013; 55(10): 1197-1204.

Affiliation

From the Harvard School of Public Health (Drs Jacobsen, Caban-Martinez, Sorensen, Dennerlein, and Reme and Ms Onyebeke), Northeastern University (Dr Dennerlein), and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dr Sorensen), Boston, Mass; Uni Health (Dr Reme), Uni Research, Bergen, Norway; and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Dr Jacobsen), Trondheim, Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0b013e31829c76b3

PMID

24064778

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:: We aimed to investigate how mental distress was associated with pain and injuries in a convenience sample of construction workers.

METHODS:: A cross-sectional, mental health assessment was conducted in a convenience sample of construction workers (N = 172). A subsample participated in a clinical interview (n = 10). We used a cutoff (1.50 or greater) on Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 to determine substantial mental distress and determined associations with pain and injury outcomes.

RESULTS:: The prevalence of substantial mental distress was 16% in the workers. This was supported by follow-up clinical interviews where 9 of 10 workers fulfilled the criteria for a mental disorder. Substantial mental distress was associated with both injury rate and self-reported pain.

CONCLUSION:: This pilot study strongly suggests the need for rigorous studies on construction worker mental health and how it affects their work and well-being.

Language: en