Stressors of quantity surveyors working on-site: Female vs male

Abstract

The World Health Organization has identified stress, which can cause a devastating effect on the emotional and physical wellbeing of a person, as the health epidemic of the 21st century. Occupational stress is a severe problem among male and female professionals. This study aimed to compare the significant stressors of male Quantity Surveyors (QSs) working on-site with their female counterparts. A mixed approach consisting of a series of interviews and a questionnaire survey was adopted to collect the data required for the study. Purposive sampling was used to select the interviewees and questionnaire survey participants from among the QSs working on-site for contractors. Heavy workload/overtime/inflexible work was identified as the most significant stressor of both male and female QSs. Heavy domestic responsibilities and inadequate earned income were the second most significant stressor of female and male QSs, respectively. Shortcomings of the tendering process (document discrepancies, under-priced quotations) were the third most significant stressor for male and female QSs, though not mentioned in the literature. The study findings revealed that the stressors affecting male and female QSs working on-site must be considered separately.