Minor psychiatric disorders and working conditions in truck drivers

To estimate the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders and to identify associated stressors among truck drivers.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 460 truck drivers from a cargo transportation company of the Southern and Southeastern regions of Brazil, in 2007. Workers completed a questionnaire about sociodemographic, lifestyle and working conditions data. Working conditions were the independent variables, including occupational stressors, job satisfaction and job demand-control. The outcome evaluated was the occurrence of minor psychiatric disorders. Multiple and univariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

The prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was 6.1%. The most frequently reported stressors were traffic congestion, tracking control and extended working hours. High job demand, low social support and extended daily working hours, as reported by drivers, were associated with minor psychiatric disorders.

Work involving extended working hours was associated with the occurrence of minor psychiatric disorders, both in the analysis of general working conditions and as a factor considered to be a stressor by drivers. Thus, regulation of working hours with focus on the limitation of the daily working hours is necessary to reduce the chance of developing minor psychiatric disorders in drivers.