Abstract
ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among the following elements: unhealthy work indicators (job stress and emotional exhaustion at work), the decision to drive (or not), and driving crashes suffered by Spanish workers.MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, a full sample of 1,200 Spanish drivers (44% women and 56% men) was used, their mean age being 42.8 years. They answered a questionnaire divided into three sections: demographic and driving-related data; burnout, job stress, and life stress; and self-reported road behaviors and driving safety indicators.ResultsOverall, 41.6% of drivers reported emotional exhaustion at work. Furthermore, 80.2% of the participants showing substantial signs of job stress or exhaustion had experienced one or more important stressful life events during the previous year. Job stress was associated with the number of driving crashes suffered along the last 3 years. Also, and especially in situations where drivers admit not feeling well enough to drive, job stress and emotional exhaustion seem to be independent from the decision to drive, and from perceiving these variables as potential impairers of driving performance.ConclusionsFirst of all, this study showed a high prevalence of job stress and emotional exhaustion symptoms experienced at work by Spanish workers. Moreover, significant relationships were found among self-rated driving performance, workplace stress and burnout indicators, which suggests that job stress and emotional exhaustion levels may, indeed, impair driving performance, but they do not influence the decision to drive or not. In other words, even when they are significantly affected by job stress or emotional exhaustion at work, most Spanish drivers still drive.
Highlights
Job stress (JS) has been pointed out by different studies as a relevant predictor of workers’ discomfort, morbidity and even mortality [1,2], and it is closely related to emotional exhaustion at work (EEW), one of the three key structural factors of the most accepted approach to burnout [3], which in turn increases the risk of accidents inside and outside the workplace [3,4]
This study showed a high prevalence of job stress and emotional exhaustion symptoms experienced at work by Spanish workers
Significant relationships were found among self-rated driving performance, workplace stress and burnout indicators, which suggests that job stress and emotional exhaustion levels may, impair driving
Summary
Job stress (JS) has been pointed out by different studies as a relevant predictor of workers’ discomfort, morbidity and even mortality [1,2], and it is closely related to emotional exhaustion at work (EEW), one of the three key structural factors of the most accepted approach to burnout [3], which in turn increases the risk of accidents inside and outside the workplace [3,4]. It is relatively common to see how many drivers undervalue the impact of such factors on driving safety [5] In this sense, the understanding of many health-related factors which affect the driving performance and the increase of the knowledge and awareness of drivers implies that relevant actions that can be taken, since they are tools which may strengthen road safety [6,7]. The understanding of many health-related factors which affect the driving performance and the increase of the knowledge and awareness of drivers implies that relevant actions that can be taken, since they are tools which may strengthen road safety [6,7] This is especially relevant when considering certain facts, such as that the prevalence of mental disorders is considerably frequent—and approximately a third of people will suffer from these disorders at some point of their lives- [8]. Li et al [10] found that higher levels of EEW are positively and significantly linked to driving anger, and that EEW may be a relevant predictor of high-risk driving behaviors that may lead to traffic crashes; Montoro et al [11] found significant associations between job stress and the rate of traffic fines received as a consequence of drivers’ road misbehaviors
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