Stress Management in the Construction Industry

‘ A book that presents an integrated and comprehensive stress management model that reflects the demands and dynamism of the construction industry is not just important but a must for all those working in the industry .’ Philip Dewe, Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Birkbeck College, University of London   ‘Stress kills and successful stress coping enables us to live abundantly… to thrive.  This well–conceived, focused volume reveals the stress process in the challenging construction industry, and the best ways to cope.’ James Campbell Quick, Professor of Leadership & Organizational Behavior, John and Judy Goolsby – Jacqualyn A Fouse Endowed Chair, at University of Texas at Arlington With its task complexity, tight timeframes, complicated work relationships and poor working environments, the construction industry is recognised as stressful. This book aims to enhance the performance of construction personnel by presenting an integrated and comprehensive stress management model. Though illustrating both how construction personnel are affected by various stressors and how this influences their performance the model also explains how stress levels can be managed by dealing with the stressors and using appropriate adaptive coping behaviours.  Stress Management in the Construction Industry is based on an extensive literature review, on survey studies and on scenario analyses to thoroughly investigate the components of stress management for construction personnel, including the multiple dimensions of the stress they experience, the nature of their stressors, the coping behaviors they adopt, and the consequences of stress for their performance. The book aims to help researchers in construction management and in occupational health and safety understand the issues and theory, as well as offering practical recommendations for professional bodies and policy advisors. The authors explore various stress management components and analyses for construction personnel, including their different work natures; the various stressors causing their stress; the manifestation of stress; the impact of coping behaviours to the stress; the consequences of stress on their performances; and the stress management strategies.  In order to provide specific and effective recommendations for construction personnel to manage their stress, these topics are supported by scientific research results including both survey statistics and scenario analyses. In chapters where scientific research results are applied, statistical results are first presented, followed by various scenarios to unveil the underlining reasons of the statistical relationships found.  Detailed analyses and discussions are then be made using genuine construction context.   The authors’ goal here is to facilitate the development of stress management research and education in construction, while also enhancing the awareness of construction personnel on the significance of stress and the importance of its management.

Dr Mei–yung Leung is Associate Professor of the City University of Hong Kong, PRC.  She has more than twenty years of practical/teaching experience in the construction industry/education and has participated in a number of prestigious construction projects in Hong Kong.  She has over 150 international publications in various research areas covering stress management, construction project management, value management, facility management, and construction education.  Up to the present, she has attracted over HK$ 15 million in the capacity of investigator in both professional and research projects.   Dr. Leung has successfully completed all levels (including the teaching level) of the Mindfulness–based Stress Reduction training at the University of Massachusetts in the USA, and conducted various stress management seminars and full course to construction companies, professional institutes, higher educations and religious organizations.   She has received a number of international awards, including the Tony Toy Memorial Award issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Value Management in Hong Kong, the Thomas D. Snodgrass Value Teaching Award issued by the SAVE International ‘The Value Society’ in the USA, and the Teaching Excellence Award issued by the City University of Hong Kong.  Dr. Leung is also a senior Fulbright Scholar at the Pennsylvania State University and University of Southern California. Dr Isabelle Yee Shan Chan is post–doctoral fellow at the University of Hong Kong, PRC.  She is the author of over 40 international publications in books, journals and conferences, covering areas of stress management, health and safety, culture, and innovation in construction.  In line with these research areas, she has participated in more than 10 research projects in the capacities of principle investigator, co–investigator and project coordinator.  Stress management in construction is the research area of her PhD study; she has also successfully completed the mindfulness–based stress reduction program in the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong.  Dr. Chan is the vice–chairman of the Institute of Safety and Health Practitioners in Hong Kong, and is also a visiting fellow of Hughes Hall of University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.   Professor Sir Cary L. Cooper, CBE is Pro Vice Chancellor for External Relations & Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology & Health Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University, UK Chair of Academy of Social Sciences, Past President of the British Assn of Counselling & Psychotherapy & President of RELATE.  He is the author of over 120 books (on occupational stress, women at work and industrial and organizational psychology), has written over 400 scholarly articles, and is a frequent contributor to national newspapers, TV and radio.    Professor Cooper is a Fellow of the British Academy of Management and also of the Academy of Management (having also won the 1998 Distinguished Service Award). In 2001 he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his contribution to organizational health.  Professor Cooper was the lead scientist to the UK  Government Office for Science on their Foresight programme on Mental Capital and Well Being (2007–2008).  He was appointed a member of the expert group on establishing guidance for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on ‘promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions’, 2009.  Professor Cooper is Chair of the UK’s Academy of Social Sciences (an umbrella body of 47 learned societies in the social sciences; and was Chair of the Chronic Disease and Wellbeing Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum in Geneva in 2009.