Case control study on the mental health, perceived stress, and coping styles of executives and underground workers in coal enterprise

Abstract

Objective To carry out a control study on the mental health, perceived stress, and coping styles of executives and underground workers in coal enterprise. Methods Totally 238 executives of state-owned coal enterprise and 240 underground workers were tested by symptom self-assessment scale (SCL-90) , perceived stress scale and simple coping style scale. Then the test results were analyzed. Results according to the SCL-90 results, the total score of coal enterprise executives was (123.670±27.850) and it was lower than that of national norm (t=-3.151, P<0.01) . The total score of underground workers was (138.610±49.720) and it was higher than that of national norm (t=2.882, P<0.01) . The difference between them was significant (t=-4.05, P<0.01) ; the score of perceived stress of enterprise executives (15.70±7.37) was lower than that of underground workers (t=-9.553, P<0.01) ; the scores of positive coping of executives were (2.04±0.43) , and they were significantly higher than those of the underground workers (t= 2.886, P<0.01) ; the scores of negative coping of executives were (1.06±0.49) , and they were significantly lower than those of the underground workers (t=-9.225, P<0.01) . Conclusions Executives of coal enterprise get a better psychological health level than underground workers; the executives are not sensitive to perceived stress; and they use more positive coping styles to deal with difficulties and setbacks. The underground workers are sensitive to perceived stress, and they use more negative coping styles to deal with difficulties and setbacks. Key words: Coal enterprises; Senior executives; Underground workers; Mental health; Perceived stress; Coping style