The Effect of Construction Workers’ Work Resilience on Their Leisure Sports Participation: The Mediating Role of Safety and Health Awareness

Abstract

This study, grounded in psychological capital theory and the work resource model, investigates the impact of construction workers’ work resilience on their leisure sports participation. An interdisciplinary integration model was developed, incorporating work resilience, safety and health awareness, and leisure sports participation, providing empirical evidence for enhancing the well-being of the construction workforce. The study specifically examines the roles of physiological resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and occupational engagement in this context. A survey conducted with 663 construction workers in China and Korea revealed the following: (1) physiological resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and occupational engagement significantly and positively influence workers’ leisure sports participation; (2) safety and health awareness serves as a significant mediator between work resilience and leisure sports participation among construction workers. These findings underscore the importance of improving the work environment and creating semi-natural restorative landscapes to promote the physical and mental health of construction workers, as well as their engagement in leisure sports. The study calls for governmental and community initiatives, including policy support and resource allocation, to comprehensively enhance the overall well-being of construction workers.

1. Introduction

As an important part of blue-collar laborers, the promotion of the well-being of construction workers is a responsibility that cannot be ignored in the development of society. As builders and maintainers of urban infrastructure, the health and safety of the construction worker group is directly related to the stability and development of the whole society [1]. The International Labor Organization (ILO) and construction trade unions in many countries have particularly emphasized the working environment and quality of life of this group, actively promoting the improvement of their working conditions. With increasing awareness of life and health in modern society, public concern for improving the living and working conditions of these workers is also increasing [2]. For example, the UK Construction Workers’ Health and Safety Foundation (CIOB) provides construction workers with free occupational health counseling and annual health check-ups, aiming for the early detection and prevention of occupational diseases and reduction in workplace accidents through the promotion of safe operating procedures and site management training [3].

However, because of the limitations of their occupational attributes and job content, construction workers are still often faced with heavy physical labor, excessively long working hours, and high levels of psychological stress [4]. For construction workers, those with higher work resilience are better able to cope with the stresses and challenges of their daily work, thus improving their occupational satisfaction and overall quality of life. Scholars and workers’ unions are actively looking for ways to improve the work resilience and well-being of construction workers, and as a result, recreational sports have begun to enter the public consciousness. Traditional competitive sports require a high level of physical fitness and professional skills, which is undoubtedly an additional physical burden, as the daily work of construction workers already consumes a lot of physical strength. In addition, competitive sports often have a certain degree of competitiveness and pressure, and so there is a further aggravation of psychological pressure and fatigue in construction workers. Compared with traditional, high-intensity competitive sports, leisure sports activities, with their “low threshold” and “high fun” characteristics, are obviously a more appropriate match to construction workers as a group [5]. Leisure sports activities such as walking, yoga, cycling, and other recreational sports do not require professional sports venues and can be easily performed during work breaks or spare time. Regular participation in recreational sports has been widely recognized as an important way to effectively reduce stress, enhance physical health, and significantly improve psychological well-being [6].

Current research on the resilience of construction workers remains limited, often confined to the mental health of construction workers [7] and studies of female construction workers [8], and there are significant gaps in the literature exploring how their work resilience affects leisure sports participation. In addition, the mediating role of safety and health awareness has not been fully explored in the existing literature. Therefore, this study is based on the dual perspectives of psychology and management, and for the first time, the mediating roles of work resilience, safety and health awareness, and leisure sports participation have been incorporated into this study. We established a structural equation model to fill the academic gap and explore the influence of construction workers’ work resilience and safety and health awareness on their participation in leisure sports activities. Awareness mediates effects in this process. This study provides an empirical basis for the enhancement of the well-being of the construction worker group, provides data support to facilitate the government and the community paying attention to construction workers’ working conditions and quality of life, and calls for more resources and policies to contribute to the enhancement of the overall well-being of this under-appreciated group.

2. Literature Review and Hypotheses

Recent research has increasingly focused on the relationship between work-related stress, resilience, and health behaviors, particularly in high-risk occupations like construction. Scholars have identified resilience—both psychological and physiological—as being crucial for maintaining well-being in demanding work environments. Simultaneously, leisure sports participation is recognized as essential for mitigating the effects of occupational stress.

Within this context, the link between work resilience and leisure sports participation has garnered significant attention. The sections that follow will explore these relationships, beginning with an analysis of work resilience’s impact on leisure sports participation and examining the roles of physiological resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and occupational engagement, culminating in our proposed hypotheses.

2.1. Work Resilience and Leisure Sports Participation

Leisure sports activities are voluntarily chosen during free time to improve physical fitness, mental health, and social interaction. These activities range from competitive sports to non-competitive ones like walking and gardening [9]. Leisure sports participation, in this context, is seen as a way to enhance individual and societal quality of life through physical and mental engagement. Research on leisure sports participation focuses on physical health, mental health, and social interaction. Studies show that regular participation improves cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and anaerobic capacity. For example, Krustrup et al. found significant cardiovascular and body composition improvements in untrained males participating in recreational soccer [10]. Hoffman’s study indicated that regular recreational sports participation enhanced muscle strength and anaerobic capacity in children [11]. In terms of mental health, recreational physical activity has a significant positive impact on mental health. Participation in recreational sports has been found to significantly improve mental health, helping participants to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and improve overall psychological resilience [12]. A systematic review by Eime et al. demonstrated that sports participation, particularly in team sports, is strongly associated with improved mental health outcomes such as elevated self-esteem, reduced depressive symptoms, and enhanced social interaction [13]. In terms of social interaction, recreational physical activity also significantly enhances social interaction skills. Lower’s study found that students who participated in sports clubs excelled in social interaction and leadership skills [14]. In addition, Barbieri’s study noted that participation in social and sports organizations contributes to self-rated physical and mental health, and this benefit was particularly evident among males [15]. And the factors affecting leisure sports participation include personal schedules, knowledge of the activities, work and school stress [16], and urban–rural differences in residential settings [17].

Resilience, a concept rooted in psychology, refers to the capacity of individuals to adapt successfully in the face of adversity, stress, or threats. Its development is understood as a dynamic process involving complex interactions between the individual and their environment. Jackson et al. conceptualize resilience as the ability to positively adjust when confronted with challenges, emphasizing the importance of strategies such as cultivating positive professional relationships, sustaining motivation, developing emotional insight, achieving life balance, nurturing spirituality, and enhancing reflective skills. These strategies collectively contribute to strengthening an individual’s resilience, enabling them to navigate difficulties with greater efficacy [18]. Work resilience, on the other hand, refers to an individual’s ability to positively adapt and return to normal working conditions when faced with stress, challenges, and adversity at work. This ability not only helps individuals to maintain mental health in adversity, but also enhances job performance and career satisfaction. Work resilience is affected by a variety of factors, including personal traits, work environment, and occupational characteristics. Personal traits such as neuroticism, positive thinking, self-efficacy, and coping styles have a significant impact on resilience and influence the level of resilience by affecting the psychological adjustment process [19]. Badu believes that support systems and leadership styles in the work environment also play an important role; for example, organizational resources such as formal and informal support services, leadership, and role modeling can enhance employees’ resilience [20]. Moreover, the characteristics of specific occupations can significantly influence resilience. For instance, Delgado et al. found that mental health workers, who are frequently exposed to emotional labor, must possess a high level of resilience to manage the demands of their roles effectively. The study also highlights the critical role of clinical supervision in bolstering resilience among these workers [21]. This shows that work resilience is an important competency needed by individuals when facing work stress and challenges.

Work resilience is particularly important for construction workers who face the challenges of high-intensity work and harsh environments. Chen et al.’s study showed that personal resilience has a direct negative impact on psychological stress in construction work [22]. Concurrently, the literature has extensively documented the positive effects of recreational physical activity on psychological well-being, highlighting its role in reducing stress, alleviating anxiety, and improving overall mental and physical health. Moreover, such activities foster social interaction and teamwork, which are vital for the holistic well-being of workers in high-stress occupations like construction. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the specific impact of leisure sports participation on the enhancement of work resilience among construction workers. While the general benefits of physical activity are well-recognized, the direct relationship between leisure sports and resilience in this occupational group has not been thoroughly explored. Addressing this gap, this study hypothesizes that participation in leisure sports can serve as a crucial mechanism for construction workers to relieve work-related stress, build social connections, and subsequently enhance their resilience, enabling them to better manage work-related challenges and maintain sustained engagement in both work and recreational activities. Based on this, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H1: 

Construction workers’ work resilience positively influences their leisure sports participation.

Physiological resilience refers to an individual’s ability to maintain or quickly restore a normal physiological state in the face of stress and adversity. Physiological resilience is critical to the physical and mental health of construction workers due to the high-risk and high-intensity nature of their work environment. Klinedinst and Hackney found that physiological resilience plays an important role in coping with aging, stress, and inflammation. Studies have shown that physiological resilience can be enhanced by regular physical exercise, low-calorie and high-nutrient diets, and prebiotic and probiotic supplementation. These interventions help to maintain or restore physiological homeostasis in the body [23]. It is evident that physiological resilience plays a vital role in coping with stress and maintaining health. Through exercise, nutritional interventions, and stress management, individual physiological resilience can be effectively enhanced to improve overall health and quality of life. Lu, C.’s study demonstrates that personal resilience among construction workers has a direct mitigating effect on psychological stress. The findings indicate that workers with higher resilience levels are better equipped to manage and alleviate stress, even in high-pressure environments, thereby preserving their physical and mental health. This stress-reducing capacity also facilitates active participation in leisure and sports activities, which, in turn, further enhances their physiological resilience [24]. Construction workers typically develop strong physiological resilience due to the demands of their high-intensity work, enabling them to engage in low-intensity sports during their leisure time. Participation in these activities not only improves psychological health and subjective well-being but also enhances the ability to cope with work-related stress. Based on these insights, the following hypotheses are proposed in this study:

H1a: 

Construction workers’ physiological resilience positively influences their leisure sports participation.

Psychological resilience is viewed as a multidimensional psychological construct that consists of an individual’s stable traits (e.g., personality, ability to regulate emotions) and modifiable intrinsic factors (e.g., coping strategies). This multidimensionality allows psychological resilience to show different adaptive and resilient abilities in the face of different types of stressors [19]. In his study, Foster showed that psychological resilience is closely related to an individual’s mental health. Individuals with high resilience are better able to maintain their mental health and reduce the risk of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety when facing stress and challenges [25]. Construction workers often need to face heavy work, which causes them to have different levels of psychological resilience to normal people and better equips them to face life. In turn, appropriate participation in recreational sports activities after work can help to relieve psychological stress, especially for construction workers, who are a high-intensity work type. Participation in leisure sports activities helps to enhance the psychological well-being of individuals, including reduction in psychological distress and stress. Studies have shown that psychological resilience plays a moderating role in this process, i.e., the positive emotions generated through leisure activities can enhance the psychological resources of individuals for coping with stress, thus reducing psychological problems [26]. In summary, psychological resilience is defined as an individual’s capacity to adapt effectively and regain equilibrium in the face of stress, adversity, and challenges. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of psychological resilience in maintaining psychological well-being, particularly for construction workers who operate in high-intensity and high-risk environments. This resilience not only aids in preserving mental health but also encourages active participation in recreational physical activities, which in turn enhances both physical and mental well-being. Despite these insights, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the specific mechanisms through which psychological resilience influences health outcomes in this demographic. Building on this understanding and addressing these gaps, the following hypotheses are proposed in this study:

H1b: 

Construction workers’ psychological resilience positively influences their leisure sports participation.

Social support originates from psychological research, and its concept was first proposed by foreign scholar Cobb, who proposed the concept of social support in the process of psychiatry research and believed that social support is the care and support that people feel from others [27]. Later, Wills further developed the definition of social support as the perception or experience of being loved, cared for, and valued, as well as the feelings of mutual aid and support from one’s social relationship network [28]. As an indispensable part of social development and urban construction, construction workers tend to be more in need of social support, and at the same time, their perception of social support is also more obvious. Huang and Liu demonstrated in their study that social support plays a crucial role in enhancing both mental and physical health. Specifically, construction workers who received social support were more likely to engage in recreational sports activities, which in turn helped to reduce psychological stress, improve physical fitness, and enhance work performance [29]. Similarly, Han and Lee found that social support significantly influences individuals’ participation in sports, particularly through emotional and instrumental support. Support from family and friends can boost self-efficacy and self-esteem, thereby increasing motivation to engage in recreational physical activities [30]. Despite these findings, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the specific pathways through which social support influences leisure sports participation among construction workers. Addressing this gap, this study hypothesizes that construction workers are more likely to participate in recreational sports activities when they perceive adequate social support. By providing both emotional and instrumental support, social support not only improves psychological health and overall well-being but also fosters greater engagement in leisure sports, which positively impacts both physical health and job performance. Based on these insights, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H1c: 

Construction workers’ social support positively influences their leisure sports participation.

Occupational engagement is defined as the degree to which an individual psychologically identifies with his or her job. This identification can be manifested through their psychological engagement, involvement, and attention to their work [31]. Rabinowitz and Hall conceptualize occupational engagement as a multidimensional construct that can be assessed by the extent to which individuals psychologically identify with their work, the perceived importance of their work, and the degree of psychological resources they invest. Their research also emphasizes that occupational engagement is not solely a personal trait but is significantly influenced by the work context [31]. In the case of construction workers, who typically engage in highly focused and goal-oriented tasks, occupational engagement tends to be particularly high. This heightened engagement may, in turn, increase their likelihood of participating in leisure and sports activities after work. Supporting this notion, Orpen’s study found that employees with higher levels of occupational engagement were more likely to engage in work-related leisure activities during non-work hours. This pattern was observed among bank employees and police officers, where those with greater occupational engagement participated more frequently in leisure activities connected to their work, suggesting that occupational engagement enhances employees’ motivation to engage in leisure sports activities [32]. Regular participation in sports activities helps to improve employees’ psychological well-being and job satisfaction, which in turn enhances their occupational engagement. Construction workers can relieve stress and enhance their physical and mental well-being through leisure sports activities after intense work, thus performing better at work [33]. Therefore, by improving occupational engagement, construction workers can have a better work–life balance and thus actively participate in leisure sports activities to enhance their physical and mental health and overall well-being. Based on this, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H1d: 

Construction workers’ occupational engagement positively influences their leisure sports participation.

2.2. Safety and Health Awareness, Work Resilience, and Leisure Sports Participation

Safety is a critical component of occupational health, defined as “the state of being free from harm, injury, or loss.” It encompasses comprehensive risk assessment, hazard prevention, control, and management, and it is a fundamental requirement across all industries. Safety risks are omnipresent, whether at home, work, or in public spaces [34]. Recent research, including studies by Chatterjee and Roy, highlights the importance of rigorous health and safety procedures in protecting workers, particularly in industrial settings. These procedures not only mitigate risks but also enhance worker focus and productivity, demonstrating the value of safety awareness and training programs, especially in larger industries that invest more heavily in these areas [35]. In the context of construction workers, work resilience has been shown to significantly influence safety and health awareness. Wang D. et al. found that psychological capital, including resilience, plays a pivotal role in enhancing safety behaviors by increasing workers’ awareness of safety participation [36]. Furthermore, Meliá and Becerril’s research connects higher safety awareness to improved health behaviors, such as regular exercise and healthy eating habits, which are critical for maintaining both mental and physical well-being among construction workers [37]. These findings suggest that safety and health awareness is not only essential for immediate workplace safety but also for long-term health outcomes.

While these studies provide a solid foundation, there is a growing recognition in the recent literature that the relationship between safety and health awareness and other occupational health factors—such as work resilience and leisure sports participation—requires further exploration. Specifically, the role of safety and health awareness as a mediating factor between work resilience and leisure sports participation remains underexplored. Existing research has laid important groundwork by identifying correlations between safety awareness and positive health behaviors, but the specific pathways through which safety awareness enhances resilience and encourages leisure sports participation, particularly in high-risk professions like construction, have yet to be fully elucidated. Based on this thorough analysis of the current literature and the identification of research gaps, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H2: 

Safety and health awareness mediates the relationship between work resilience and leisure sports participation among construction workers.

The Job Demands–Resources Model suggests that excessive job demands can lead to a continuous drain on psychological resources as individuals continue to learn or work, including workloads, time pressures, emotional demands, and so on. Good job resources help to achieve job goals, reduce the negative impact of job demands, and stimulate various aspects of personal growth and development. This includes social support, feedback, job autonomy, and career development opportunities. It follows that individuals with greater physiological resilience are likely to have a higher sense of safety at work or study. And in this study, physiological resilience can improve the overall health of construction workers, which can enhance their safety and health awareness and make them pay more attention to safety and health issues in the work environment, which then lets them take effective measures to protect themselves and others. Meanwhile, Saleem et al. also found in their study that psychological capital and work engagement have a positive impact on safety behavior of construction workers [38]. To summarize, safety and health awareness can be enhanced by improving physiological resilience so that workers can maintain good physical and mental health in high-risk work environments and thus participate more actively in leisure and sports activities. Based on this, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H2a: 

Safety and health awareness mediates the relationship between physiological resilience and leisure sports participation among construction workers.

With the development of the construction industry, the mental health and safety behaviors of construction workers have received increasing attention. When construction workers face high-risk and high-stress work environments, researchers generally agree that psychological capital plays an important role in improving safety behaviors and mental health. Changquan et al. found in their study that psychological capital had a significant positive effect on safety behaviors of construction workers; self-efficacy and resilience were especially positively related to safety engagement behaviors [39]. This result is consistent with the findings of Wang, who investigated the effects of safety-related stress and psychological capital on safety behavior and found that safety-related stress weakened safety behavior, while psychological capital could mitigate this negative effect [36].

Psychological resilience plays a crucial role not only in enhancing safety behavior and mental health but also in helping individuals manage work-related stress more effectively, thereby improving their safety and health awareness and overall behavioral performance. Nwaogu et al. found a significant negative correlation between individual resilience and psychological stress among construction workers, indicating that higher levels of psychological resilience can substantially reduce psychological stress. This reduction in stress, in turn, enhances workers’ safety and health awareness [40]. In high-pressure environments, psychological resilience not only boosts health awareness but also encourages more active participation in leisure and sports activities, which are essential for stress relief and relaxation.

Further supporting this, studies have shown that increased safety and health awareness contributes to the overall well-being of workers. For instance, Fransen observed that psychological safety awareness mediates the effects of identity leadership on team performance and athletes’ well-being, demonstrating that psychological resilience fosters effective teamwork, strengthens team resilience, and reduces burnout by reinforcing team identity [41]. Similarly, Ran et al.’s research identified a significant negative association between psychological resilience and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization, suggesting that workers with higher psychological resilience and safety and health awareness are more inclined to participate in leisure activities that promote both mental and physical health [42]. These findings provide further evidence of the positive impact of psychological resilience on workers’ participation in sports activities, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being. Based on this comprehensive analysis, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H2b: 

Safety and health awareness mediates the relationship between psychological resilience and leisure sports participation among construction workers.

Construction workers frequently encounter high levels of job stress and significant health risks. To mitigate these challenges, social support and leisure sports participation have emerged as two crucial coping strategies. Social support, encompassing assistance from family, coworkers, and the broader community, plays a vital role in alleviating job stress, enhancing job satisfaction, and improving mental health. Similarly, leisure sports participation offers significant benefits by enhancing physical health and psychological well-being through physical exercise and mental relaxation.

Safety and health awareness, which refers to an individual’s knowledge and attentiveness to their own health and workplace safety, is another critical factor. It not only influences construction workers’ ability to anticipate and manage work-related risks but also affects their willingness to engage in leisure sports participation and their actual involvement in such activities. For instance, in their study on work stress and safety behaviors among construction workers, Goldenhar et al. found that factors such as work stress, job control, social support, and the overall safety climate were significantly linked to the occurrence of work injuries and near-miss accidents. This highlights the crucial role of social support in alleviating work-related stress and enhancing safety awareness [43]. Additionally, Gillen et al. examined injured construction workers’ perceptions of workplace safety climate, psychological job demands, and coworker support, finding that a stronger safety climate and greater coworker support were associated with lower levels of injury [44]. These findings underscore the importance of integrating social support and safety and health awareness as part of comprehensive strategies to improve both the physical and mental well-being of construction workers, while also reducing job-related risks.

The Job Demands–Resources model emphasizes that job demands and resources together influence employees’ stress and performance. Social support and leisure sports participation are critical job resources that can mitigate stress from high job demands and promote employees’ physical and mental health. Safety and health awareness is a key psychological mechanism that helps individuals manage job demands and utilize job resources effectively. Higher safety and health awareness improves sensitivity to health and safety issues, leading to better use of social support and increased participation in leisure and physical activities to cope with work stress and enhance overall health [45]. Therefore, increased social support is likely to boost leisure sports participation among construction workers by enhancing their safety and health awareness. Based on this premise, the following hypotheses are proposed:

H2c: 

Safety and health awareness mediates the relationship between social support and leisure sports participation among construction workers.

Occupational engagement and leisure sports participation are critical indicators of the physical and mental health of construction workers. Occupational engagement refers to the time, energy, and emotional commitment that employees invest in their work. While high levels of occupational engagement reflect workers’ enthusiasm and dedication, they can also lead to increased work stress and associated health risks [46]. Safety and health awareness, which involves being conscious of one’s health and safety in the workplace, plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between occupational engagement and leisure sports participation. Enhanced safety and health awareness enables workers to better recognize work-related stresses and health risks, thereby encouraging active participation in leisure sports as a means to mitigate these stresses and improve overall well-being. For example, Nwaogu et al. found that psychological capital and work engagement positively impact safety behavior, underscoring the importance of psychological factors in workplace safety [47]. Additionally, Ni et al. explored the relationship between job satisfaction and safety behavior, identifying occupational engagement as a significant mediator in this process [48].

The Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model provides a useful framework for understanding how job demands and resources jointly influence employee stress and performance (Figure 1). Occupational engagement, when viewed as a significant job demand, has the potential to elevate psychological stress and physical strain. In contrast, leisure sports participation functions as a vital job resource, alleviating work stress and promoting physical and mental health. Safety and health awareness serves as a key psychological mechanism for managing these job demands and resources. Higher safety and health awareness increases sensitivity to health and safety issues, leading to more effective management of occupational engagement and fostering active participation in leisure activities, which in turn helps to cope with work stress and enhances overall health.

Therefore, it is posited that higher occupational engagement can enhance leisure sports participation among construction workers by improving their safety and health awareness. This, in turn, supports greater participation in leisure activities, contributing to better health outcomes. Based on this rationale, the following hypotheses are proposed in this paper:

H2d: 

Safety and health awareness mediates the relationship between occupational engagement and leisure sports participation among construction workers.

3. Study Design

In order to ensure the scientific validity and reliability of the findings, this study adopted a rigorous questionnaire methodology and measurement tools in the design stage. Firstly, a diversified sampling strategy was adopted during the distribution of the questionnaire and data collection to improve the representativeness of the sample and the authenticity of the data. Second, in order to ensure the accuracy of variable measurement, the scale was carefully designed and rigorously tested for reliability and validity in this study. The following will describe in detail the questionnaire methodology adopted in this study, the variable measurement process, and the application of relevant statistical tools to further illustrate the rigor of the study design and the reliability of the data.

3.1. Research Methods

This study employed a robust methodological framework to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings. Several statistical tools and techniques were utilized throughout the research process. Initially, to assess and mitigate potential common method bias, Harman’s single-factor test was conducted. This test is essential for verifying whether a single factor accounts for the majority of the variance in the data, which would indicate a significant method bias. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to identify the underlying factor structure of the measured variables. EFA was supported by the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett’s test of sphericity, which are prerequisites for factor analysis. The KMO test assesses the adequacy of the sample size for factor analysis, while Bartlett’s test evaluates whether the correlations between variables are significant enough to justify the analysis. These preliminary tests ensured that the data was suitable for factor extraction and interpretation. Following EFA, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to validate the factor structure identified during the exploratory phase. CFA was conducted using AMOS 23.0 software, allowing for the assessment of the model’s fit and the reliability of the constructs. The analysis included the calculation of composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) to confirm the convergent and discriminant validity of the constructs. In addition, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the hypothesized relationships among the study variables.

The three areas of comparative testing in validity analysis of scales are structural validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Structural validity is to test whether the correspondence between the factor and the measured item is as expected, and it is generally tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The premise of factor analysis is that the items or variables are related, and KMO and Bartlett’s test of sphericity are used to test whether there is a correlation between the variables. Thus, passing the KMO and Bartlett’s sphericity test is a prerequisite for proceeding with EFA. However, after passing the KMO and Bartlett’s sphericity test, the scale cannot be determined to have structural validity, and the structural validity of the scale needs to be comprehensively interpreted based on the results of the EFA in conjunction with the validated factor analysis. Convergent validity is a process test that tests that the question items under the same factor all converge to their factor, which needs to be tested by validated factor analysis (CFA). By contrast, discriminant validity is the process of emphasizing that question items that should not be under the same factor are indeed not under the same factor. In this paper, in order to fully test the composite validity of the scale, the test was carried out in this logical sequence, so that the statistical conclusions were true and reliable.

Measurement model analysis using the analysis method for exploratory factor analysis uses the following formula:

$$Q1=a_{1}M+e_1$$

(1)

$$Q2=a_{2}M+e_2$$

(2)

$$Q3=a_{3}M+e_3$$

(3)

where e₁, e₂, and e₃ are the residual term, a₁, a₂, and a₃ are the factor loading, and the regression coefficient of the residual is 1, because the residual represents the information left after the data of the question items (Q1, Q2, Q3) are interpreted by the latent variable M, so the weights are the same (set to 1). The regression coefficients (a₁, a₂, and a₃) require at least one to be set to 1. This is because the purpose of the measurement model analysis is to push out the latent variable M backward through the three regression model equations, which is different from the traditional sense of independent variables predicting the dependent variable, and if a regression coefficient is not realized to determine a regression coefficient of 1, the result of M is not unique, and therefore the measurement model cannot be fitted successfully.

3.2. Questionnaire Methodology

This study adopted a combination of snowball sampling and the random sampling method to carry out the official questionnaire distribution work by distributing the questionnaires on-site in China and South Korea. Firstly, we distributed the questionnaires to a group of construction workers at the building site, and then we collected more diverse groups based on the recommendation and diffusion of the subjects to ensure the authenticity of the data. In this study, 750 questionnaires were distributed in the preliminary stage, and 719 questionnaires were returned. After excluding the questionnaires with incomplete filling and obvious logical errors, 663 valid questionnaires were returned, and the validity rate of the questionnaires was 92.21%. Among them, 359 were of Chinese nationality and 304 were of Korean nationality; 392 were male and 271 were female; and 478 had excellent self-assessed health while 185 had poor self-assessed health. More basic information about the samples is shown in

Table 1. Descriptive analysis of basic information.

Causality	Form	Quorum	Percentage
citizenship	sino	359	54.1
	South Korea (Republic of Korea)	304	45.9
distinguishing between the sexes	male	392	59.1
	women	271	40.9
(a person’s) age	20–30	107	16.1
	30–40	165	24.9
	40–50	228	34.4
	50–60	107	16.1
	60 or more	56	8.4
incomes	Below RMB 7000	123	18.6
	RMB 7000–15,000	278	41.9
	RMB 15,000–25,000	179	27
	RMB 25,000 or more	83	12.5
Self-assessment of health	differ from	185	27.9
	excellent	478	72.1

.

3.3. Measurement of Variables

In this study, a 5-point scale was used, with 1 indicating “strongly disagree” and 5 indicating “strongly agree”, and all measurement tools were translated using the “translate-back-translate” method. Work resilience (WR) is a relatively new variable that has not been fully defined; therefore, this study integrated the multiple dimensions of WR that have been explored by previous scholars [49,50,51,52]. We used four dimensions of work resilience—psychological resilience, physiological resilience (physiological resilience), social support (social support), and occupational engagement (occupational engagement)—in order to ensure that their core connotations were fully observed. This resulted in a four-dimensional, 20-item scale for work resilience, including items such as “I have enough energy to cope with daily work tasks” and “I feel that time passes quickly when I am at work”.

The measurement of safety and health awareness (safety and health awareness) in this study fully drew on the research scale of Hayes [53] et al. In this study, the reverse items in the original scale were changed to positive items, and the core expressions of the items were adjusted appropriately according to the different topics. Finally, a 5-item scale was formed for the present study. This scale included items such as “I am happy to participate in health and safety training provided by the company on a regular basis”. The measurement of leisure sports participation (LSP) was based on the well-established scales on tourism consumption specified by Roychowdhury et al. [54] and Aslan et al. [55] in previous studies, and it was streamlined based on both of these scales while retaining the original intent. We formed a 4-item scale for the willingness to purchase tourism products in this paper, including items such as “I am willing to take time to participate in sports and leisure activities”. The study scale questions are detailed in Appendix A.

4. Findings

In order to ensure the validity and credibility of the results of this study, we conducted a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the data, including common method bias testing, exploratory factor analysis, validation factor analysis, and structural equation modeling analysis. The application of these methods not only helped to validate the intrinsic structure and underlying relationships of the data but also ensured the robustness and explanatory power of the research model. The following sections describe in detail these analytical methods and their results, providing a solid statistical foundation for the findings of this study.

4.1. Common Methodological Biases

In this study, the common method bias test was conducted using Harman’s one-way test. The underlying assumption of this method is that if method variance exists in large quantities, then either factor analysis is conducted with a single common factor explaining most of the variance in the variable or a separate factor is resolved. The results analyzed by SPSS 23.0 software showed that there were six factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, with a total explained variance of 70.718%, and that the first principal factor explained 39.005% of the variance, which is less than the critical criterion of 40%. Therefore, there is no serious common method bias problem in this study.

4.2. Exploratory Factor Analysis

Exploratory factor analysis using SPSS 23.0 was used to conduct KMO and Bartlett’s spherical test on the scale. The results indicate that KMO = 0.952, which is greater than 0.7, and Bartlett’s spherical test value is significant (Sig. < 0.001), indicating that the questionnaire data meet the prerequisite requirements for factor analysis. Therefore, further analysis was carried out, and the principal component analysis method was used for factor extraction. The common factor was extracted with the eigenroot greater than 1 as the factor, and the factor analysis was carried out with the variance-maximizing orthogonal rotation when the factor was rotated. The results of the analysis are shown in

Table 2. Total variance interpretation table.

Component	Initial Eigenvalues			Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings			Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings
	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %
1	11.312	39.005	39.005	11.312	39.005	39.005	4.171	14.382	14.382
2	2.546	8.778	47.784	2.546	8.778	47.784	3.516	12.123	26.505
3	1.969	6.790	54.574	1.969	6.790	54.574	3.496	12.054	38.560
4	1.859	6.409	60.982	1.859	6.409	60.982	3.461	11.933	50.492
5	1.474	5.084	66.066	1.474	5.084	66.066	2.954	10.186	60.678
6	1.349	4.651	70.718	1.349	4.651	70.718	2.912	10.040	70.718
7	0.555	1.912	72.630
8	0.509	1.754	74.384
9	0.491	1.695	76.079
10	0.469	1.619	77.698
11	0.457	1.575	79.273
12	0.451	1.554	80.827
13	0.437	1.507	82.334
14	0.426	1.468	83.802
15	0.399	1.377	85.179
16	0.388	1.337	86.516
17	0.383	1.320	87.835
18	0.370	1.276	89.111
19	0.352	1.215	90.327
20	0.345	1.190	91.517
21	0.329	1.133	92.650
22	0.306	1.055	93.705
23	0.292	1.008	94.713
24	0.290	1.000	95.713
25	0.285	0.983	96.697
26	0.272	0.936	97.633
27	0.259	0.891	98.524
28	0.229	0.791	99.315
29	0.199	0.685	100.000

. A total of six factors were obtained, and the total explanatory power reached 70.718%, which is greater than 50%, indicating that the six factors screened are well represented. The factor loading of each measurement question item is greater than 0.5, the cross loadings are all less than 0.4, and each question item falls into the corresponding factor, which has good structural validity.

4.3. Validation Factor Analysis

There are six categories of variables in this study, containing 29 measurement topics, and the results after performing validated factor analysis using AMOS 23.0 are shown in

Table 3. Results of validation factor analysis.

Variant	Subject	Factor Load	CR	AVE
Psychological Resilience	PR1	0.825	0.871	0.628
	PR2	0.744
	PR3	0.823
	PR4	0.775
Physiological Resilience	PHR1	0.804	0.875	0.584
	PHR2	0.76
	PHR3	0.767
	PHR4	0.742
	PHR5	0.745
Social Support	SS1	0.816	0.898	0.597
	SS2	0.773
	SS3	0.693
	SS4	0.735
	SS5	0.755
	SS6	0.852
Occupational Engagement	OE1	0.782	0.884	0.603
	OE2	0.757
	OE3	0.806
	OE4	0.773
	OE5	0.765
Leisure Sports Participation	LSP1	0.762	0.905	0.657
	LSP2	0.817
	LSP3	0.806
	LSP4	0.859
	LSP5	0.806
Safety and Health Awareness	SHA1	0.826	0.912	0.722
	SHA2	0.845
	SHA3	0.894
	SHA4	0.833

. The standardized factor loadings of each measurement index for each variable are all greater than 0.6 or more, the component reliabilities (CRs) are all greater than 0.7, and the average variance extractions (AVEs) are all greater than 0.5, which indicates that each variable has good convergent validity. In this study, the more rigorous AVE method was used to assess the discriminant validity [56], and the open root sign of the AVE of each factor had to be greater than the correlation coefficient of each pairwise variable, indicating that there was discriminant validity between the factors. The open root of the AVE for each factor is greater than the standardized correlation coefficient off the diagonal, so this study still has discriminant validity (as shown in

Table 4. Differential validity and correlation analysis.

	PR	PHR	SS	OE	LSP	SHA
PR	0.792
PHR	0.382 **	0.764
SS	0.465 **	0.365 **	0.773
OE	0.361 **	0.479 **	0.391 **	0.777
LSP	0.500 **	0.452 **	0.481 **	0.530 **	0.811
SHA	0.521 **	0.464 **	0.471 **	0.470 **	0.592 **	0.850

Note: ** p < 0.01.

, with the diagonal downward triangles being the correlation coefficients).

4.4. Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

AMOS 23.0 was utilized to perform the calculations, and the estimation was performed using the maximum likelihood method; the results are shown in Figure 2. From the fitting coefficients, the CMIN/DF is 1.191, which is less than the standard of less than 3; the GFI, AGFI, NFI, TLI, IFI, and CFI reach the standard of more than 0.9; the RMR is 0.025, which is less than 0.08; and the RMSEA is 0.017, which is less than 0.08. Each fitting index meets the general research standard, so it can be considered that this model consists of good fitness. The specific path coefficients are shown in

Table 5. Table of path factors.

Trails			Standardized Coefficient	Non-Standardized Coefficient	S.E.	C.R.	p	Suppose That...
LSP	<---	PR	0.279	0.262	0.041	6.39	***	set up
LSP	<---	PHR	0.128	0.125	0.042	2.948	0.003	set up
LSP	<---	SS	0.207	0.192	0.039	4.912	***	set up
LSP	<---	OE	0.313	0.276	0.039	6.997	***	set up
SHA	<---	PR	0.234	0.222	0.042	5.278	***	be tenable
SHA	<---	PHR	0.152	0.15	0.042	3.569	***	set up
SHA	<---	SS	0.129	0.12	0.039	3.097	0.002	be tenable
SHA	<---	OE	0.108	0.096	0.04	2.421	0.015	set up
LSP	<---	SHA	0.301	0.303	0.05	6.039	***	set up

Note: *** p < 0.001.

. From the above table, we can obtain that PR has a significant positive effect on LSP (β = 0.279, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; PHR has a significant positive effect on LSP (β = 0.128, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; SS has a significant positive effect on LSP (β = 0.313, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; OE has a significant positive effect on LSP (β = 0.313, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; PR has a significant positive effect on SHA (β = 0.234, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; PHR has a significant positive effect on SHA (β = 0.152, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; SS has a significant positive effect on SHA (β = 0.129, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; OE has a significant positive effect on SHA (β = 0.108, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid; and SHA has a significant positive effect on LSP (β = 0.301, p < 0.05) and the hypothesis is valid.

4.5. Intermediary Testing

In this study, the mediation effect is verified by bootstrapping, which is a universal test that does not require the total effect to be significant or the sampling distribution to be normal. The bootstrap sampling test refers to whether the 95% confidence interval of the product of regression coefficient a and regression coefficient b (a*b) includes the number 0; if the 95% confidence interval does not include the number 0, it indicates that there is a mediation effect; if the 95% confidence interval includes the number 0, it indicates that there is no mediation effect. Using the bootstrap method to run the test 5000 times in AMOS23.0, the level values of corrected bias and the percentile at 95% confidence level were obtained. As shown in

Table 6. Intermediation test table.

	Efficiency Value	Bias—Corrected		p	Percentile		p
		95% CI			95% CI
		Lower	Upper		Lower	Upper
PR_LSP total effect	0.318	0.219	0.417	0.000	0.219	0.416	0.000
PR_SHA_LSP	0.084	0.056	0.129	0.000	0.055	0.127	0.000
PR_LSP direct effect	0.234	0.137	0.333	0.000	0.132	0.331	0.000
PHR_LSP total effect	0.191	0.097	0.291	0.001	0.094	0.290	0.001
PHR_SHA_LSP	0.039	0.016	0.074	0.001	0.015	0.071	0.001
PHR_LSP direct effect	0.152	0.063	0.249	0.001	0.060	0.246	0.001
SS_LSP total effect	0.191	0.108	0.282	0.000	0.105	0.280	0.000
SS_SHA_LSP	0.062	0.034	0.107	0.000	0.033	0.106	0.000
SS_LSP direct effect	0.129	0.045	0.215	0.002	0.042	0.211	0.003
OE_LSP total effect	0.203	0.107	0.303	0.000	0.109	0.304	0.000
OE_SHA_LSP	0.094	0.063	0.145	0.000	0.062	0.144	0.000
OE_LSP direct effect	0.108	0.010	0.220	0.034	0.007	0.216	0.039

, SHA plays a partial mediating role in the process of all four independent variables acting on the dependent variable LSP.

5. Discussion and Analysis

5.1. Direct Effects

The study results show that among construction workers, the direct effect of work resilience on leisure sports participation was significant. This indicates that work resilience plays an important role in promoting workers’ health and well-being. Specifically, construction workers’ physiological resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and occupational engagement all had a significant positive influence on their leisure sports participation. Due to the typically high-intensity physical labor and unstable working conditions in the construction industry, physiological resilience is a major factor in the ability to participate in leisure sports. Workers with higher physiological resilience can better cope with physical stress at work, thus having enough energy to engage in leisure sports activities outside of work. This not only improves their physical health but also relieves physical fatigue and tension through exercise. In terms of psychological resilience, construction workers often face work pressure, time constraints, and safety hazards, leading to increased psychological stress. Workers with high psychological resilience can manage these pressures more effectively, can maintain a positive state of mind, and are more willing to participate in leisure physical activities after work. Activities such as walking and cycling not only serve as effective means of stress reduction but also enhance their overall psychological well-being. This is consistent with the study by Nwaogu et al., which concluded that psychological resilience was significantly and negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms among construction workers and that high psychological resilience helps them be more active in activities that contribute to their physical and mental health [7].

In exploring social support for construction workers, we found that emotional and practical help from social networks such as family, friends, and coworkers can enhance the resilience of construction workers and that a strong social support system makes them feel more confident and secure in the face of workplace stress. This support not only provides emotional comfort but also helps in practical terms, allowing workers to have more time and resources to engage in leisure and sport activities. The presence of social support promotes interaction between workers and creates a positive social atmosphere, which further encourages them to engage in group leisure and sport activities, increasing their social engagement and well-being. This is consistent with the study of Traunmüller et al. [57], who found that social support played an important role in alleviating psychological stress during the COVID-19 epidemic. In terms of occupational engagement, workers with high occupational engagement usually have a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to their work, which not only improves their productivity but also enhances their positive attitude towards life. This motivation and dedication can extend beyond work, making them more willing to participate in various leisure and sports activities to maintain good physical and mental condition. Workers with high occupational engagement also usually pay more attention to balancing work and life, actively participating in leisure activities to regain their energy and enhance their quality of life.

However, comparisons across studies show that while most studies support the positive impact of work resilience on leisure sports participation, the impact of resilience may not be significant in specific populations or contexts. For example, Koo and Lee’s study concluded that although social support can enhance social participation in some situations, this influential role does not apply to all populations, and in the case of Baby Boomers, the relationship between their leisure sports participation motivation and social support is not significant [58]. In addition, Takiguchi et al. found in their study that although participation in leisure activities can promote psychological well-being, its direct enhancement of psychological resilience was not significant, especially during the COVID-19 epidemic, when a decrease in leisure activities did not significantly affect psychological resilience and depressive symptoms [26]. These studies suggest that the effect of resilience on leisure sports participation may be conditioned by a variety of factors, including demographic characteristics, social context, and the influence of specific events. Nonetheless, work resilience in construction workers continues to play a key role in promoting their leisure sports participation. By improving physiological resilience, psychological resilience, and social support, workers are better able to cope with work stress, maintain a positive mindset, and actively participate in leisure sports activities that contribute to physical and mental health. This not only helps to enhance the overall well-being of workers but also improves their work efficiency and life satisfaction. In this regard, business managers should emphasize the cultivation and enhancement of work resilience, and they should provide the necessary support and resources to help workers achieve a better work–life balance and promote their physical and mental health and long-term development.

5.2. Mediating Effects

Research has shown that safety and health awareness plays a significant mediating role between construction workers’ work resilience and their leisure sports participation. Construction workers’ physiological resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and occupational engagement all positively influence leisure sports participation behavior.

(1) The Mediating Effect of Safety and Health Awareness in Construction Workers’ Physiological Resilience for Leisure Sports Participation Is Significant

Construction workers are often physically active and exposed to a variety of occupational risks, and those with higher physiological resilience are more likely to demonstrate higher safety and health awareness when faced with the physical stresses and potential risks of the workplace. Awareness leads to a greater emphasis on recreational physical activity to enhance fitness, prevent workplace injuries, and improve overall health. Good physiological resilience provides workers with the necessary physical foundation to respond positively to safety and health training and to participate in physical activities that further enhance their physical resilience and health. At the individual physiological level, a worker’s level of physiological resilience affects his or her tolerance to physical load and ability to recover from work, which in turn affects his or her willingness and ability to participate in recreational sports. At the work environment level, the physical conditions and safety measures of the work environment can affect the relationship between physiological resilience and leisure sports participation, and a good work environment is more likely to motivate workers to participate in sports activities. At the socio-cultural level, the relationship between physiological resilience, safety and health awareness, and leisure sports participation is also influenced by the social awareness of health and sports and the resources and support provided. Therefore, companies should promote construction workers’ physiological resilience through pre-work physical training and health coaching, as well as enhancing safety and health education in the workplace to ensure that workers understand and practice safety practices. They should enhance construction workers’ safety and health awareness, thereby promoting their health and well-being.

(2) The Mediating Effect of Safety and Health Awareness in Psychological Resilience for Leisure Sports Participation among Construction Workers Is Significant

Psychological resilience plays a critical role in the lives of construction workers. As these workers are often exposed to high-intensity work environments and potential occupational risks, psychological resilience is particularly important to their physical and mental health. Workers with high psychological resilience are better able to manage stress and anxiety at work, thereby reducing psychological burden. When workers have high psychological resilience, they will pay more attention to their mental health and realize that participating in leisure and sports activities can effectively relieve work stress and improve their mental health. After realizing the positive impact of psychological resilience on mental health, construction workers are more willing to engage in leisure activities such as after-dinner walks and square dances after work, thus forming a cycle of “mental health awareness–sports participation behavior–mental health awareness”. This positive cycle not only enhances their physical health, but also strengthens their safety and health awareness. Jonsdottir’s study further supports our view [59], suggesting that workers with high psychological resilience are more likely to engage in activities that contribute to their mental health because they are more aware of the safety and health benefits of these activities. This awareness further contributes to their motivation to participate in leisure and physical activities. Therefore, companies should help construction workers improve their ability to cope with stress, enhance their psychological resilience through psychological resilience training and intervention programs, create a work environment that supports employees’ physical and mental health, and provide the necessary psychological communication.

(3) The Mediating Effect of Safety and Health Awareness in Construction Workers’ Social Support to Promote Leisure Sports Participation is Significant

Social support plays an important role in promoting individual health behaviors by enhancing the safety and health awareness of construction workers, which in turn affects their frequency and attitudes toward participating in leisure and physical activities. Social support plays an important role in promoting individual health behaviors. For construction workers, who face high work intensity and pressure, leisure and sports activities are not only a means to relieve work pressure, but also an important way to improve the quality of life. Social support from family, friends, and coworkers can significantly increase their motivation to participate in leisure sports. Such support may be in the form of encouragement to participate, joint exercise, or financial and time assistance, thus lowering the barriers to participation. Safety and health awareness is the bridge between social support and leisure sports participation. Safety and health awareness among construction workers, including knowledge of safe practices, awareness of healthy lifestyles, and awareness of potential workplace injuries, is a factor that can be influenced by social support. For example, workplace safety training and health education programs, when effectively implemented and widely supported, can significantly increase workers’ safety and health awareness. When construction workers have high safety and health awareness, they are more likely to recognize the importance of recreational and physical activity in maintaining and promoting physical health. This awareness makes them more likely to translate social support into actual leisure sports participation.

During the analysis, we also noted multilevel effects. At the individual level, construction workers’ personal traits, health status, and sport interests affect their perception of social support and their willingness to take action. At the group level, team culture and the level of support in the work environment can have a significant impact on workers’ safety and health awareness and sport participation. At the organizational level, corporate policies and resource investment are critical in shaping the overall supportive environment. Therefore, business organizations should strengthen the social support system to encourage families and communities to provide more emotional and economic support for construction workers, while companies should establish systems and cultures that support employees’ participation in leisure and sports. In addition, enterprises should improve workers’ safety and health knowledge and strengthen their understanding of the value of leisure and sports activities through regular training and educational activities. Enterprises and government departments should also cooperate to provide the necessary sports facilities and services to reduce the economic and time costs of workers’ participation in leisure sports.

(4) The Mediating Effect of Safety and Health Awareness in Construction Workers’ Occupational Engagement to Promote Leisure Sports Participation is Significant

Occupational engagement positively influences construction workers’ leisure sports participation through their safety and health awareness. For construction workers, high occupational engagement may lead them to prioritize their safety and health to avoid work-related injuries that could affect their performance and income. This increased safety and health awareness highlights the importance of leisure and physical activities in preventing injuries, relieving stress, and improving overall health. When safety and health awareness is high, workers are more likely to carry safety practices and healthy habits into their daily lives, including recreational and sports activities. Therefore, safety and health awareness mediates the relationship between occupational engagement and leisure sports participation. Based on this, we propose the following recommendations to promote leisure sports participation among construction workers: first, through the promotion of health education programs, such as regular health talks and workshops, construction workers can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, especially the role of leisure sports activities in preventing work injuries, reducing stress, and enhancing overall health. In addition, the establishment of a dedicated online health education platform to provide workers with a wealth of resources and online consultation services can further strengthen their health awareness. In terms of improving the workplace support system, the implementation of flexible working arrangements, such as flexible working hours and sufficient rest breaks, can help workers achieve a better work–life balance and thus have more time and energy to participate in physical activities. At the same time, creating a supportive work environment that encourages mutual help among co-workers and care from management, as well as providing mental health support, such as psychological counseling services and 24-h hotlines, can effectively alleviate workers’ psychological pressure and enhance their work engagement and quality of life. To increase opportunities for participation in leisure and sports activities, fitness facilities can be set up near construction sites, and group sports activities, such as friendly competitions and running clubs, can be organized on a regular basis, which will not only help workers to maintain their physical health but also enhance team cohesion. Workers can be further motivated to participate in physical activities and develop healthy living habits by providing incentives for physical activities, such as setting up health awards or giving extra benefits. Taking into account individual worker differences, personalized interventions should be designed according to work engagement, such as providing flexible physical activity options for highly engaged workers and adding team activities for less engaged workers to enhance their sense of participation. In addition, the creation of personal health profiles with regular assessments and the promotion of personalized fitness programs can ensure that each worker receives support tailored to his or her health needs. Finally, considering the importance of cultural and social factors, these measures should be promoted with respect for workers’ cultural backgrounds, encouraging the participation of family members and the formation of a wider health support network so as to enhance workers’ well-being and health in general.

5.3. Related Recommendations

In the modern construction industry, the principles of risk management and resilient design are of irreplaceable importance in safeguarding the safety and health of construction workers. Construction workers are exposed to high-intensity, complex, and changing work environments for long periods of time, and their resilience and overall well-being are easily affected by a variety of risk factors. Risk management, as a systematic approach, can significantly reduce occupational injury and health risks during the construction process by identifying, assessing, and responding to potential sources of hazards [60,61]. At the same time, the principle of resilient design aims to effectively safeguard the safety and health of workers under adverse conditions and ensure the rapid recovery and normal operation of the workplace by optimizing the work environment and facilities with the ability to cope with emergencies, such as natural disasters and accidents [62]. This not only helps to reduce the risk of injury to workers in extreme environments but also relieves, to a certain extent, the psychological burden brought about by work stress.

Studies have shown that physiological resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and work engagement positively influence construction workers’ leisure sport participation behavior by enhancing safety and health awareness. Safety and health awareness acts as a mediator to help workers better understand and recognize the importance of maintaining physical and mental health for job safety and personal well-being. Therefore, within the framework of risk management and resilient design, enhancing construction workers’ safety and health awareness is a key factor in promoting their leisure sport participation. In order to further enhance the well-being of construction workers, firms should aim to improve the work environment and incorporate sustainable practices to create workspaces that are conducive to workers’ physical and mental health. On the one hand, companies should establish healing landscapes within or near construction sites to serve as green spaces for workers to relieve work stress. On the other hand, the construction space layout should be functionally optimized. Among them, the healing landscape design should fully consider the needs and preferences of workers and plan feasible green spaces. First, companies should plant pollution-resistant and easy-to-maintain native trees and shrubs to create green vegetation areas. They may install flowing water features or small fountains in rest areas to utilize the natural healing properties of water elements to help workers relieve stress and fatigue. The second objective is to create healing gardens with walkways, seating, and recreational facilities for workers to engage in daily leisure and physical activities. The design concept of natural lighting and ventilation can be introduced to allow natural light and fresh air to become part of the working environment through large windows, skylights, or open building structures. Third, to promote participation in leisure and sports activities, simple sports venues, such as basketball courts, badminton courts, or the provision of some outdoor fitness equipment, should be designed to encourage workers to engage in physical exercise and enhance their physical fitness. In the optimization of the functionality of the construction space, it is recommended that it be divided into clear functional areas to reduce the interference and additional pressure caused by the mixing of work and rest spaces, as well as to ensure that workers can effectively recover physically and mentally in the specially designated rest areas. In addition, the application of environmental psychology can be introduced into the optimization of the construction space layout, considering the impact of color, light, space layout, and other factors on workers’ psychology and behavior. Reasonable use of these elements can reduce workers’ psychological pressure, enhance their safety and health awareness, and motivate them to participate in leisure and sports activities. By providing a positive healing work environment, one can effectively enhance workers’ work resilience and reduce work-related stress and anxiety, increasing worker productivity and satisfaction.

6. Shortcomings and Prospects

This study explored the relationship between the variables of physical resilience, psychological resilience, social support, and work engagement by analyzing the effects of construction workers’ work resilience on their leisure sport participation. Although some meaningful conclusions were made, the following limitations remain: first, this study only collected data from construction sites in China and South Korea, which limited the diversity of the samples and did not adequately take into account the differences in the performance of workers from other cultural backgrounds, age levels, and occupations. Future studies should introduce more samples from different countries, cultural backgrounds, ages, and occupational groups to avoid biased findings. In addition, the effect of differences in different types of construction sites and projects should be considered to increase the generalizability and credibility of the study. Second, the cross-sectional research methodology used in this study failed to adequately examine the long-term changes in resilience and recreational sport participation behaviors of construction workers. Future studies should adopt longitudinal research methods to track changes in workers’ behaviors and psychological states at different points in time, and they should draw conclusions longitudinally using research methods such as cross-lagging in order to more accurately understand the long-term effects of work resilience on workers’ behaviors. Third, because it was limited by self-reported data from questionnaires, this study was unable to comprehensively examine workers’ specific behaviors in actual work and leisure activities. Future studies should introduce more objective data sources, such as on-site observations at construction sites, workers’ health surveillance data, and participation records of leisure and sports activities, in order to comprehensively assess the effects of work resilience and safety and health awareness on workers’ actual behaviors. In addition, future studies should incorporate diverse research methods and data sources with different cultural and social backgrounds to explore the impact of work resilience on the health and well-being of construction workers in a more comprehensive and in-depth manner. Through these efforts, we expect to provide policymakers and business managers with more effective intervention strategies to promote the overall well-being and social development of the construction worker population.