Health and well-being in the architectural profession and the influence of gender

There is considerable evidence that those working within the construction industry are at risk of poor health and well-being due to a number of stressors. The structure and culture of the construction industry combine to result in stressors for those employed within the sector, namely, long working hours, high workload, job insecurity, low professional worth and poor work life balance. Architects occupy a unique position in the construction industry and may face additional stressors due to their reliance on construction as their sole client. There is also evidence that some architects enter the profession due to a mis-belief that the architect's role is primarily creative. This conflict between expectations and reality may act as an additional stressor. Poor health and well-being may have damaging consequences for the individual, for example, illness, and for the organisation, through reduced productivity and attrition of employees. [Continues.]