Stress and Health: An Empirical Study Based on Survey Data from 115 Chinese Truck Drivers

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the correlation of stressors with health behaviors and health effects in the group of Chinese truck drivers. This study was cross-sectional in structure, and descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation were performed on a total of 115 first-hand questionnaires collected. The sample indicates that drivers are mainly male (97.4%) and 22.6% are aged 31 to 40. A significant finding in this study is that the drivers of this sample indicate a high level of income dissatisfaction, while at the same time being subjected to tremendous operating pressure and reporting a great prevalence of physical ill health. This study employed exploratory cross-tabulation analysis and determined that there is a positive association of bad health habits (irregularity of diet, etc.) with digestive diseases, association of psychological stress (longstanding anxiety, etc.) with cardiovascular disease, and a clear association of higher income dissatisfaction with a higher reporting of anxiousness. The conclusion drawn is that under conditions of pronounced income dissatisfaction and operational stress, the work characteristics of the freight industry, bad health habits, and psychological stress are interrelated and impose tremendous physical hardships on the drivers.