Social support and occupational stress relationship analysis of 1 413 train drivers in a railway bureau

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the social support status of train drivers. Methods: Using cluster sampling, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 413 male train drivers (including 301 passenger train drivers, 683 freight train drivers, 85 guest scheduling train drivers, 265 cargo adjustable drivers, and 79 high-speed train drivers) from a railway bureau depot. The survey included individual factors, social support, occupational stressors, strains, personalities, and coping strategy using occupational stress instruments and effort-reward imbalance questionnaire. We compared the difference in social support scores between different drivers, who were divided according to job type and age. Additionally, the correlation between social support score and job strain-related factors was analyzed. The influence of depressive symptoms and job satisfaction were analyzed using a non-conditional logistic multivariate model. Results: The overall average age P(50) (P(25),P(75)) of 1 413 train drivers was 33.92 (27.83,43.58) years. The overall average length of service 12.25 (5.25,22.75) years. A significant difference in social support scores was observed according to job type (H=23.23, P<0.001). The specific scores were passenger driver(27 (23,32)), freight train driver (26 (22,30)), guest scheduling driver (27 (24,30)), cargo adjustable driver (26 (22,31)), and high-speed train driver (30 (26,36)) (P(50)(P(25),P(75))). Additionally, social support scores among different age groups were significantly different (H=6.64, P=0.036). The specific scores were ≤30 years (26 (22,31)), 30-40 years (27 (23,33)), and >40 years (27 (22,31)). Correlation analysis revealed that the social support score was negatively associated with job satisfaction (r=-0.43), reward (r=-0.22), working stability (r=-0.23), promotion opportunities (r=-0.12), positive affectivity (r=-0.31), esteem (r=-0.21), and self-esteem (r=-0.20) scores (P<0.001). The social support score was positively associated with sleep disorders (r=0.33), external effort (r=0.21), pay within (r=0.12), role conflict (r=0.20), conflict between groups (r=0.17), conflict in groups (r=0.06), responsibility for the others (r=0.06), responsibility for things (r=0.08), physiological needs (r=0.39), psychological needs (r=0.19), daily stress (r=0.29), negative affectivity (r=0.23), and depressive symptoms (r=0.44) scores (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed social support had a great influence on depressive symptoms and low job satisfaction. Compared with high social support, low social support resulted in depressive symptoms (OR=4.12, 95% CI:3.19-5.33) and low job satisfaction (OR=2.18, 95%CI:1.65-2.88). Conclusion: Train drivers obtained various levels of social support. Social support greatly affected occupational stress. High social support was related to reduction in the occurrence of occupational stress, depressive symptoms, and low job satisfaction. Social support is related to mental health of train drivers.