Occupational stress among Nigerian construction trade artisans in the building construction sector: An intervention study

BACKGROUND: Construction work can negatively affect artisans’ mental health in the form of stress. This research investigated the effect of cognitive behavioral intervention on occupational stress among Nigerian construction trade artisans in the building construction sector. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study involving 3 waves of data collection, 140 construction trade artisans who presented with high occupational stress symptoms at the study onset were assigned randomly to either a treatment condition (n = 70) or to a waitlist control condition (n = 70). The study involved pre-treatment and post-treatment assessments and a 3-months follow-up. The artisans’ occupational stress questionnaire and artisans’ dysfunctional thoughts at work scale were the data collection instruments. RESULTS: Results revealed a significant effect of group on artisans’ occupational stress and dysfunctional thoughts at work. Also, significant effects of time on artisans’ occupational stress and dysfunctional thoughts at work were recorded. Finally, group × time interaction effects on artisans’ occupational stress and dysfunctional thoughts at work were significant. CONCLUSION: Cognitive behavioral intervention effectively reduced occupational stress symptoms and dysfunctional thoughts at work among Nigerian construction trade artisans compared with a waitlist control condition.