Associations Between Workplace Factors and Depression and Anxiety in Australian Heavy Vehicle Truck Drivers.

Chalmers, T; Maharaj, S; Lal, S

Associations Between Workplace Factors and Depression and Anxiety in Australian Heavy Vehicle Truck Drivers.

Chalmers, T

Maharaj, S Lal, S

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Publisher:: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Ann Work Expo Health, 2021, 65, (5), pp. 581-590
Issue Date:: 2021-06-12

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chalmers, T https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5943-5135
dc.contributor.author	Maharaj, S
dc.contributor.author	Lal, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0911-0850
dc.date.accessioned	2022-05-05T00:40:20Z
dc.date.available	2020-12-10
dc.date.available	2022-05-05T00:40:20Z
dc.date.issued	2021-06-12
dc.identifier.citation	Ann Work Expo Health, 2021, 65, (5), pp. 581-590
dc.identifier.issn	2398-7308
dc.identifier.issn	2398-7316
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/157027
dc.description.abstract	INTRODUCTION: A number of health issues have been identified as prevalent within the Australian heavy vehicle driving population. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, are among those disorders that have been regularly reported, however, the contributing factors are yet to be elucidated. METHODS: This study aimed to assess the associations between workplace factors such as years of employment, social interaction and shift length, with depressive and anxious symptomology in a cohort of 60 Australian heavy vehicle drivers. RESULTS: Significant positive associations were identified between depression and alcohol use (P = 0.044), coffee consumption (P = 0.037), number of accidents during career (P = < 0.004), and number of hours driving per shift (P ≤ 0.001). Anxiety was found to be positively associated with a number of hours driving per week (P ≤ 0.001), and the number of accidents or near misses during a driving career (P = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Several workplace factors were identified as being correlated to depression or anxiety within this cohort, suggesting potential changes to rostering systems and education regarding alcohol use may benefit the mental health of this driver population.
dc.format	Print
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Oxford University Press (OUP)
dc.relation.ispartof	Ann Work Expo Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1093/annweh/wxaa134
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Accidents, Traffic
dc.subject.mesh	Anxiety
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Motor Vehicles
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Exposure
dc.subject.mesh	Workplace
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Anxiety
dc.subject.mesh	Accidents, Traffic
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Exposure
dc.subject.mesh	Motor Vehicles
dc.subject.mesh	Workplace
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.title	Associations Between Workplace Factors and Depression and Anxiety in Australian Heavy Vehicle Truck Drivers.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	65
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Centre for Health Technologies (CHT)
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-05-05T00:40:19Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	65
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: A number of health issues have been identified as prevalent within the Australian heavy vehicle driving population. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, are among those disorders that have been regularly reported, however, the contributing factors are yet to be elucidated. METHODS: This study aimed to assess the associations between workplace factors such as years of employment, social interaction and shift length, with depressive and anxious symptomology in a cohort of 60 Australian heavy vehicle drivers. RESULTS: Significant positive associations were identified between depression and alcohol use (P = 0.044), coffee consumption (P = 0.037), number of accidents during career (P = < 0.004), and number of hours driving per shift (P ≤ 0.001). Anxiety was found to be positively associated with a number of hours driving per week (P ≤ 0.001), and the number of accidents or near misses during a driving career (P = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Several workplace factors were identified as being correlated to depression or anxiety within this cohort, suggesting potential changes to rostering systems and education regarding alcohol use may benefit the mental health of this driver population.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/157027