The self-reported stress and stressors in tram and long-haul truck drivers

Jussi Onninen; Mia Pylkkönen; Tarja Hakola; Sampsa Puttonen; Jussi Virkkala; Asko Tolvanen; Mikael Sallinen

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103761

The self-reported stress and stressors in tram and long-haul truck drivers

Appl Ergon. 2022 Jul:102:103761. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103761. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Authors

Jussi Onninen¹, Mia Pylkkönen², Tarja Hakola³, Sampsa Puttonen³, Jussi Virkkala⁴, Asko Tolvanen⁵, Mikael Sallinen²

Affiliations

¹ Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, P.O. Box 40, FI-00032, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Finland. Electronic address: jussi.onninen@jyu.fi.
² Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, P.O. Box 40, FI-00032, Finland; Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Finland.
³ Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, P.O. Box 40, FI-00032, Finland.
⁴ Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, P.O. Box 40, FI-00032, Finland; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, PO Box 22, FI-00014, Finland.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Finland.

PMID: 35405456
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103761

Abstract

Work stress may compromise professional drivers' health and driving capacity. Differences between driver groups in terms of on-duty stress are understudied. Therefore, we examined self-reported stress (Stockholm University Stress Scale) of shift-working tram and long-haul truck drivers (n = 75) across 2-3 weeks. Furthermore, stressors were self-reported retrospectively and categorised as related to the job, driving conditions, personal, or other causes. Stress levels were generally low, but moderate to high stress (≥6) was more frequently reported among the tram drivers. Stressors related to the job (54%) and driving conditions (19% of all shifts) were frequently reported among the tram and truck drivers, respectively. Moderate to high stress was associated with categorised stressors related to the job and other causes among the tram drivers, and all categorised stressors among the truck drivers. Altogether, self-reported stress and stressors differ by driver group, but the role of shift type is less significant.

Keywords: Driving; Shift work; Stress.

MeSH terms

Automobile Driving*
Humans
Motor Vehicles*
Occupations
Retrospective Studies
Self Report