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Young construction workers: substance use, mental health, and workplace psychosocial factors

Ken Pidd (National Centre for Education on Addiction, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia)
Vinita Duraisingam (National Centre for Education on Addiction, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia)
Ann Roche (National Centre for Education on Addiction, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia)
Allan Trifonoff (National Centre for Education on Addiction, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia)

Advances in Dual Diagnosis

ISSN: 1757-0972

Article publication date: 20 November 2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Young Australian workers are at elevated risk of mental health and alcohol and other drug related problems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between alcohol and drug (AOD) use, psychological wellbeing, and the workplace psychosocial environment among young apprentices in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey of a cohort of 169 construction industry apprentices in their first year of training was undertaken. The survey included measures of psychological distress (K10), quantity/frequency measures of alcohol and illicit drug use, and workplace psychosocial factors.

Findings

Construction industry apprentices are at elevated risk of AOD related harm and poor mental health. Levels of psychological distress and substance use were substantially higher than age/gender equivalent Australian population norms. Job stress, workplace bullying, and general social support accounted for 38.2 per cent of the variance in psychological distress. General social support moderated the effects of job stress and bullying on psychological distress. Substance use was not associated with psychological distress. However, workplace social support accounted for 2.1 per cent of the variance in AUDIT-C scores, and 2.0 per cent of the variance in cannabis use. Workplace bullying explained 2.4 per cent of the variance in meth/amphetamine use.

Practical implications

Construction trades apprentices are a high-risk group for harmful substance use and poor mental health. Study results indicate that psychosocial wellbeing interventions are warranted as a harm reduction strategy.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its kind to describe a cohort of Australian construction trade apprentices in terms of their substance use and psychological wellbeing. The study shows workplace psychosocial factors may predict young workers psychological wellbeing.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the staff and students of the Vocational Education and Training organisations that participated in this research. This research was supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Safework South Australia. The authors do not receive direct or indirect funding or have any connection with the tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical or gaming industries or anybody substantially funded by one of these organisations. No other conflicts of interest are known.

Citation

Pidd, K., Duraisingam, V., Roche, A. and Trifonoff, A. (2017), "Young construction workers: substance use, mental health, and workplace psychosocial factors", Advances in Dual Diagnosis, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 155-168. https://doi.org/10.1108/ADD-08-2017-0013

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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