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Business Travel and Behavioral and Mental Health
Andrew G Rundle1, Tracey A Revenson, Michael Friedman
1Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University (Dr Rundle); Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York (Dr Revenson); Medical Advisory Board, EHE International (Dr Friedman), New York, New York.
Objective:
Assess associations between business travel and behavioral and mental health.
Methods:
Cross-sectional analyses of de-identified electronic medical record data from EHE International, Inc. a provider of corporate wellness programs.
Results:
Higher levels of business travel were associated with poorer outcomes. Compared with traveling 1 to 6 nights/mo for work, those who traveled 21+ nights were more likely to: smoke (prevalence ratio [PR] = 3.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.56, 5.46), report trouble sleeping (PR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.09, 1.71), be sedentary (PR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.56, 2.43), and score above clinical thresholds for alcohol dependence (CAGE score >1: PR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.26, 3.29), and mild or worse anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Scale [GAD-7] score >4: PR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.29, 2.21), and depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score >4: PR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.70, 3.03).
Conclusions:
Employers should provide programs to help employees manage stress and maintain health while traveling for work.