What Mental Health Topics Do Female Practitioners Discuss in the Construction Industry? A Qualitive Literature Review

The construction industry in Australia is characterized by a notably low representation of women among professional groups, the lowest across all major industries and sectors. Women who enter the industry frequently face harassment and discrimination and encounter fewer opportunities for career advancement compared to their male counterparts. There is still a clear lack of awareness and understanding among female practitioners in the construction industry regarding mental health issues. Therefore, this research addresses this significant gap through a qualitative literature review, analysing over 128 published research papers. The findings were assessed using content analysis to pinpoint the primary barriers that female practitioners encounter, alongside a range of pivotal factors and issues, including the struggle for economic survival and pressure related to salaries (n=9), followed by alcohol and drug use (n=7), and issues with superiors (n=6).This study further encapsulates the theoretical contributions and practical implications derived from existing research on mental health issues among women in construction. Future research should aim to further explore mental health issues and devise specific interventions to support the continuous inclusion of women in the construction industry.