Dr Ram Bajpai r.bajpai@keele.ac.uk
Dr Ram Bajpai r.bajpai@keele.ac.uk
Yuri Rykov
C-K Soh
Hein de Vries
Josip Car
Gerard Dunleavy
Andre Comiran Tonon
Kei Long Cheung
T-Q Thach
Georgios Christopoulos
Developing underground spaces serves a range of common urban functions, including workspaces. However, underground workplaces, work-related factors and the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters within them may negatively affect worker’s mental health. This study assessed the prevalence of psychological distress with repeated measures over time in aboveground and underground workspaces, and assessed the association between perceived IEQ parameters and work-related factors with psychological distress. A total of 329 workers in similar aboveground and underground workspaces were followed-up in three assessments over 12 months in Singapore. Psychological distress was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and defined as a GHQ-12 score =2. Perceived IEQ (air quality, temperature, noise, light) in the workplace were collected using the OFFICAIR questionnaire. We used generalised estimating equation models to assess the association between working underground, perceived IEQ, and work-related factors with psychological distress. The overall prevalence of psychological distress was 21.9%, 26.1% and 21.9%, at baseline, 3- and 12-months follow-up, respectively. The fully-adjusted multivariable analysis did not show any association between working underground and psychological distress however, perceived IEQ parameters and longer working hours were significantly associated with psychological distress. Regardless of working in under or aboveground workplaces, perceived IEQ was associated with psychological distress. Future studies are needed in order to examine the relationship between objective measures of IEQ and psychological distress and the impact of healthy building policies and improved IEQ on psychological distress.
Bajpai, R., Rykov, Y., Soh, C., de Vries, H., Car, J., Thuan-Quoc Thach, …Christopoulos, G. (2020). Prevalence of psychological distress and its association with perceived indoor environmental quality and workplace factors in under and aboveground workplaces. Building and Environment, 175, Article ARTN 106799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106799
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Mar 7, 2020 |
Online Publication Date | Mar 10, 2020 |
Publication Date | May 15, 2020 |
Publicly Available Date | May 26, 2023 |
Journal | BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT |
Print ISSN | 0360-1323 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 175 |
Article Number | ARTN 106799 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106799 |
Keywords | mental healthpsychological distressworkplace healthcohort studyunderground workplacesperceived indoor environmental quality |
Publisher URL | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106799 |
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