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Examining the impact of working conditions, lifestyle choices, and demographic factors on mental health of industrial workers

Sahar Daghagh Yazd (College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)
Mehmet Akif Karaman (Department of Liberal Arts, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)
Salma Fathi (College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)
Areej Alsarraf (College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)
Shaikhah Alajmi (College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)
Sahab Rutabian (College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)
Manya Aladwani (College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait)

Mental Health and Social Inclusion

ISSN: 2042-8308

Article publication date: 23 January 2024

Issue publication date: 9 July 2024

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore how factors such as working conditions, lifestyle choices and demographic characteristics may affect the mental health of industrial workers in Kuwait.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the scope of the study’s objective, the authors reached 400 industrial workers (228 male, 172 female) working in oil and gas organizations in Kuwait. An ordered logistic regression model was conducted to examine the effect of relevant independent variables on workers’ mental health.

Findings

Result indicated that employees with a lower education level (p-value = 0.015), employees who were smokers (p-value = 0.004) and employees with night shifts (p-value = 0.019), were more likely to experience mental health issues. Furthermore, result strongly highlights a higher chance of experiencing mental health problems among the workers who had longer working times (p-value = 0.000). On the other hand, having children (p-value = 0.042), visiting a mental health professional (p = 0.014) and living in a house with others (flat mate, family members, etc.) (p-value = 0.016) were statistically significant factors to improve employees’ mental health. Surprisingly, the authors’ research did not find a significant relationship between the mental health issues experienced by employees and their yearly income.

Originality/value

The paper lies in its exploration of the impact of working conditions, lifestyle choices and demographic factors on mental health of industrial workers using statistical approach. By applying ordered logistic regression, this study uncovers new insights into mental health of industrial workers.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Erratum: It has come to the attention of the publisher that the article, Daghagh Yazd, S., Akif Karaman, M., Fathi, S., Alsarraf, A., Alajmi, S., Rutabian, S. and Aladwani, M. (2024), “Examining the impact of working conditions, lifestyle choices, and demographic factors on mental health of industrial workers”, Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2023-0119, listed the article’s citation information incorrectly in the XML. This error was introduced in the typesetting process and has now been corrected in the online version. The publisher sincerely apologises for this error and for any inconvenience caused.

Citation

Daghagh Yazd, S., Karaman, M.A., Fathi, S., Alsarraf, A., Alajmi, S., Rutabian, S. and Aladwani, M. (2024), "Examining the impact of working conditions, lifestyle choices, and demographic factors on mental health of industrial workers", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 345-357. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2023-0119

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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