Intrinsic psychosocial stressors and construction worker productivity: impact of employee age and industry experience

This paper aims to study the impact of employee age and industrial experience on intrinsic psychosocial stressors of construction workers. Using an integrated theoretical approach, this study examines the intrinsic (top management, career development, social support, motivation and work stress) psychosocial stressors that influence the productivity of Pakistani construction contracting firms workers having varied ages and industry experiences. Data were collected through a postal questionnaire survey. A comparative analysis of these data was undertaken for employees of varied ages and industrial experiences. Findings show that employees of varied ages did not concur over several top management, career development, social support, motivation and work stress related psychosocial stressors, whereas employees of varied industrial experience were in disagreement over some work stress related psychosocial stressors. Due to the need to overcome intrinsic psychological stresses, firm support is direly needed, especially for the less-experienced employees that are more susceptible to demotivation, mental stress and health and safety risks at the sites. The study provides valuable insights into worker productivity by showing how employee varied age and diverse industry experience are associated with the intrinsic psychosocial stressors that influence worker productivity. This study will help regulatory bodies to deal with the critical psychosocial stressors and devise such policies that improve the worker productivity of their construction contracting firms.