Dual Pathways of Mindfulness in Construction Occupational Psychological Health: Long- and Short-Term Mechanisms of Positive Emotions and Psychological Capital

Promoting psychological well-being is imperative in the high-stress construction industry, where construction management professionals (CMPs) frequently face burnout and diminished engagement. This study introduced a novel mindfulness-based positive psychological intervention (MPPI) tailored specifically for construction professionals. Leveraging the newly proposed mindfulness emotional capital growth (MECG) model, the intervention aims to enhance positive emotions and psychological capital (PsyCap) to achieve lasting occupational psychological health. The MECG model theorizes that MPPI generates a dual-phase impact, fostering immediate positive emotions while gradually cultivating robust PsyCap over time. To validate the MPPI and MECG model, two experiments were conducted with Chinese construction management professionals: a long-term 2.5-month study and a short-term 1-month study. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and hierarchical regression. The results of this study revealed that the MPPI significantly reduced job burnout and increased work engagement. The chain mediation analysis indicated distinct temporal dynamics. Over the long-term, self-efficacy and resilience exerted the greatest influence on vigor, while optimism emerged as a key mediator. In contrast, the short-term effects emphasized the role of self-efficacy in reducing exhaustion and enhancing dedication, with resilience being the most effective mediator. These findings provide theoretical and practical contributions by offering a cost-effective, self-directed intervention model that is adaptable to high-stress occupations. MPPI’s structured approach demonstrates its capacity to alleviate burnout, boost engagement, and cultivate resilience, providing actionable strategies to create a healthier psychological work environment. This study advances the understanding of the differentiated short- and long-term mechanisms by which positive emotions and PsyCap influence occupational well-being by delivering a transformative framework for improving mental health in the construction sector.