Reframing construction sites as psychosocial work environments: a conceptual framework

Purpose – The construction industry is a hazardous sector with a heightened risk to workers’ mental health and well-being (MHW). Despite the importance of physical and environmental site characteristics, limited research has examined how construction site conditions shape MHW or developed theory-driven frameworks to explain these effects. This study aims to reconceptualize the construction site as a psychosocial–physical workplace. Design/methodology/approach – Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, this study synthesised evidence from 51 studies published between 2014 and 2025. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources model and the Salutogenesis framework, 34 site-level indicators were identified and classified into five domains: environmental conditions, welfare facilities, safety and security, work settings and physical space design. Findings – The indicators were mapped to both negative outcomes (e.g. stress, burnout) and positive outcomes (e.g. resilience, engagement). The review shows that construction sites function not only as sources of job demands but also as environments that can strengthen workers’ sense of clarity, control and purpose, mechanisms central to improving MHW. Practical implications – The framework supports practitioners and regulators in prioritising site-level interventions, such as environmental controls, welfare provision and space design, that integrate mental health into safety management and workplace planning. Originality/value – This study extends prior reviews that emphasised psychosocial or organisational determinants by positioning construction sites as integrated psychosocial–physical workplaces. It provides a theory-informed synthesis linking site conditions to both negative and positive MHW outcomes and proposes a conceptual model to inform site-level safety strategies and environmental design interventions.