OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of occupational stress and related factors to the mood of speed train drivers.

METHODSBy using cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 352 speed train drivers (including 291 passenger train drivers, 640 freight trains drivers, 342 passenger shunting train drivers, and 79 High Speed Rail drivers) from a Railway Bureau depot. The survey included mood, individual factors, occupational stress factors, personality factors and mitigating factors. The mood status was evaluated by mood scale, and the occupational stress factors, personality factors and mitigating factors were measured by the revised effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaires and occupational stress measurement scale.

RESULTSCorrelation analysis showed that the mood score was negative correlated with age(r = -0.07, P = 0.01), working age (r = -0.07, P = 0.01), ERI(r = -0.53, P < 0.01), extrinsic effort(r = -0.41, P < 0.01), intrinsic effort(r = -0.39, P < 0.01), group conflict(r = -0.12, P < 0.01), role conflict(r = -0.16, P < 0.01), role ambiguity(r = -0.08, P < 0.01), and social support(r = -0.36, P < 0.01), and was positive correlated with rewards(r = 0.42, P < 0.01), self-esteem(r = 0.20, P < 0.01), and coping strategy(r = 0.12, P < 0.01). The mood scores of passenger train drivers, passenger shunting train drivers, freight train drivers and High Speed Rail drivers were 4.88 ± 2.78, 4.72 ± 2.50, 4.28 ± 2.57 and 4.12 ± 3.02, respectively, which the differences had statistical significance(F = 4.23, P = 0.01), unrelated to age and working age. The descending sort of mood corrected mean was passenger train drivers(4.87), passenger shunting train drivers (4.69), freight train drivers (4.29) , and High Speed Rail drivers (4.17). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that ERI, social support, rewards, intrinsic effort, self-esteem, extrinsic effort and coping strategy were the predictors, which could explain the 74.36% of total variance.

CONCLUSIONMost occupational stress factors may cause negative mood, but rewards, self-esteem, social support and coping strategy were the protection factors of mood; different train drivers had different mood status, High Speed Rail drivers were the worst, and passenger train drivers were the best.