School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Monash University Accident Research Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Jun 6;23(1):1090. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15877-4.
Truck driving is one of the most common male occupations worldwide. Drivers endure long working hours, isolation, separation from family, compromised sleep, and face rigid regulatory requirements. Studies have documented the work factors contributing to poor health outcomes, however these have not been explored in the Australian context. The aim of this grounded theory study was to explore the impact of work and coping factors on mental health of Australian truck drivers from their perspective.
Recruitment used a purposive snowball sampling, through social media campaigns and direct email invites. Interview data were collected via phone/teleconference, audio recorded and typed verbatim. Inductive coding and thematic analysis were completed with triangulation of themes.
Seventeen interviews were completed (94% male). Six themes arose, two supporting (Connections; Coping methods), and four disrupting mental health (Compromised supports; Unrealistic demands; Financial pressures; Lack of respect). Drivers had concerns regarding the many things beyond their control and the interactions of themes impacting their health even further.
This study explored the impact of work and coping factors affecting truck driver mental health in Australia. Themes described the importance of connections and coping methods drivers had to support their health. Many factors that compromised their health were often outside their control. These results highlight the need for a multi-faceted collaboration between stakeholders; the driver, employing companies, policy makers/regulators and the public to address the negative impact of truck driving on mental health.
卡车驾驶是全球最常见的男性职业之一。司机需要长时间工作、忍受孤独、与家人分离、睡眠质量受损，并且还要面对严格的监管要求。已有研究记录了导致健康状况不佳的工作因素，但这些因素在澳大利亚的背景下尚未得到探讨。本扎根理论研究旨在从澳大利亚卡车司机的角度探讨工作和应对因素对其心理健康的影响。
通过社交媒体活动和直接电子邮件邀请，采用有目的的雪球抽样法进行招募。通过电话/电话会议收集访谈数据，并进行录音和逐字记录。采用归纳编码和主题分析，并进行主题的三角验证。
完成了 17 次访谈（94%为男性）。出现了六个主题，两个支持性主题（联系；应对方法），四个破坏心理健康的主题（支持受损；不切实际的要求；经济压力；缺乏尊重）。司机对许多超出他们控制的事情以及主题之间相互作用对他们健康的进一步影响表示担忧。
本研究探讨了影响澳大利亚卡车司机心理健康的工作和应对因素。主题描述了司机支持他们健康的联系和应对方法的重要性。许多损害他们健康的因素往往超出他们的控制范围。这些结果强调了需要利益相关者之间进行多方面的合作；司机、雇主、政策制定者/监管机构和公众共同努力，解决卡车驾驶对心理健康的负面影响。
