Research on Job Stress and Coping Strategies of Construction Professionals: A Case Study in Suzhou

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, the development of the Chinese construction industry is very fast. Due to the high-risk nature of construction work, tight construction schedule and complex working relationship, construction professionals have experienced a high level of job stress, but the research on this topic in China is still very limited. Based on critical review of job stress and stress management, the main job stressor and coping strategies were identified. A questionnaire survey was then administrated to the construction professionals in Suzhou, which produced 69 valid samples. The statistical analysis results indicated that: (1) task stressor (3.210) and organizational stressor (3.190) are perceived as the two most critical stressors by the construction professionals; (2) the job stress level (2.3–3.1) of construction professionals is at the medium level; (3) when facing job stress, from a personal point of view, physical exercise (75.36%), chatting with family and friends (68,12%) and traveling on vacation (44.93%) were most frequently adopted. At the organizational level, the more frequently adopted coping strategies are: Communications between the superiors and subordinates (53.62%) and providing employees with more private space and holidays (31.88%). This study enriches the theoretical research results of job stress of construction professionals in China, and provides valuable theoretical reference for construction professionals to relieve their job stress.KeywordsConstruction professionalJob stressJob stressorCoping strategy