Stress and Gender in Building Construction Industry in Tanzania

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the issue of stress and coping strategies in different types of gender in building construction activities. The specific objective of the study is to assess types of stressors as perceived by different genders in building construction, examine how different genders cope with different kinds of stressors in building construction and to propose possible and suitable ways different genders cope with stress. As a result, employees in the construction sector, especially women, suffer from stress more compared to men and this has in turn affected their job quality, health and performance. The finding revealed that in organizations kinds of stressors, homework conflicts cause stress mostly for all female, while to males construction workers are mostly faced with personal kinds of stressors. Problems with supervisors seem to be mentioned to both males and females as the source of stress in gender-related kinds of stressor by gender inequalities and sexual harassment, are the causes of stress to both males and females in task-related stressors-working overload and long working hours are the mostly mentioned factors of stress to both males and females and Physical kind of stressors poor working environment and inadequate safety equipment’s are the most mentioned factors of stress to both females and males construction workers. Every stakeholder should prioritize steps to reduce work-related stress in both men and women, and every construction firm should establish provisions for stress management among construction workers. Regular training of stress coping skills for construction workers should also be provided by organizations in the construction industry.