Impact of COVID-19 on work and depressive symptoms among males in the Australian construction industry

Purpose Previous studies have focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry, but little is known about how these impacts further exacerbate the effect of job quality on the mental health of the construction workforce. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on work and depressive symptoms among males in the Australian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach The study analysed data from 526 males working in the construction industry, aged 18–55, drawn from waves 2 and 3 datasets of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men). Multivariate regression modelling examined associations between job quality, the impact of COVID-19 on work and depressive symptoms. Then, a difference-in-difference regression analysis (DID) was employed to compare the effect of job quality and COVID’s impact on work on depressive symptom severity pre- and post-COVID-19. Findings The study found that 61% of participants reported COVID-19 impact on work, with work hours reduced for 33% of them but increased for 12%, while 17% worked from home. Multivariate regression analyses found a positive association between job adversities (exposure to 0/1/2+ adverse job conditions) and depressive symptoms, particularly with reported unfairness in effort–reward. Increased work hours during the pandemic exacerbated depressive symptoms. DID regression analysis revealed that increased work hours led to a significant rise in depressive symptom severity among those with high unfairness levels, while those with low unfairness levels showed no significant impact despite increased work hours. Originality/value The findings advance the knowledge of identifying job quality and the impact of COVID-19 on work that contributes to depressive symptoms, offering valuable insights for the development of management strategies to mitigate mental health risks and promote mental health recovery post-COVID-19.