CBPM Conference 2026 · Vol. 2026, Issue 1

Mental Health in Construction Management: The Impact of Workplace and Organisational Culture

Lesiba George Mollo and Boipelo Senoge

Keywords: Construction Industry, Construction management, Mental health, Organisational Policy, Workplace Culture

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how workplace and organisational cultures affected the mental health of construction managers. The study used an interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative approach to fully explore the participants' experiences concerning the phenomenon under investigation. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of 11 construction personnel working in managerial and supervisory roles on construction sites. The findings reveal that high workloads, tight deadlines, interpersonal pressures, and an organisational culture that discourages open discussions about mental health contribute significantly to stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue. The study further highlights the role of stigma and limited organisational support in exacerbating these challenges. However, the relatively small sample size limits the findings, potentially affecting the generalisability of the results. Despite this limitation, the study contributes to a growing body of knowledge about psychosocial risks in the construction industry and calls attention to the importance of organisational interventions that promote supportive work environments, improve workload management, and encourage mental health awareness.