Investigating the impact of internal organizational communication on mental ill health: the role of employees’ sense of belonging

Purpose Various initiatives focusing on internal organizational communication (IOC) have been performed to improve employees’ mental health in construction firms. However, the prevalence of mental ill health (MIH) continues to alarm, thus raising questions about the efficacy of these initiatives. It remains unclear whether IOC initiatives (i.e. top-down, bottom-up or horizontal) contribute to reducing MIH. This study aims to investigate the impact of different types of IOC on MIH and explore the role of a sense of belonging within this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Seven research hypotheses were developed based on the literature review and theoretical foundations. A questionnaire survey was designed and delivered to Vietnamese construction practitioners. About 165 validated responses were then collected. The proposed hypotheses were then validated using the PLS-SEM method. Findings The findings highlighted that only horizontal communication had a negative impact on MIH (H1c) and a positive impact on employees’ sense of belonging (H2c). Moreover, a higher level of sense of belonging was found to negatively impact MIH (H3). Originality/value This study is one of the first to investigate the impacts of IOC on MIH. The findings underscore the need for organizations to leverage horizontal communication to enhance employee well-being and sense of belonging.