OBJECTIVETo analyse the relationship between coping strategy and occupational stress in rail freight dispatchers.

METHODS115 rail freight dispatchers were investigated by using group sampling method, investigation contents included coping strategies, occupational stressors, strains and personalities.

RESULTSThe proportion of using coping strategy in rail freight dispatchers is lower. The scores of job future ambiguity, type A behavior and work locus of control in workers with insufficient coping strategy were higher than those in workers with sufficient strategy (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but the score of organization commitment score in workers with insufficient coping strategy was lower than those in workers with sufficient strategy (P < 0.05), the differences of scores of some occupational stressor, strain and personality variables between workers with insufficient and those with sufficient in social support, job-family balance, job involvement coping factors of coping strategy were remarkable significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the differences of scores of occupational stressor, strain and personality variables between workers with insufficient and those with sufficient in ask, logic and time management factors of coping strategy weren't significant (P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that risk of being job dissatisfaction and daily life stress in workers with insufficient social support coping was three or four times than those with sufficient coping (OR = 3.06 or 4.38, respectively), risk of being daily life stress in workers with insufficient job involvement coping was three times than those with sufficient coping (OR = 3.26).

CONCLUSIONThe proportion of using coping strategy in rail freight dispatchers is lower. Coping strategy has influence on the individual's perception of occuaptional stressors, strains and personalities.