Factors that influence the mental health of bus drivers: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective

Bus drivers are at risk of ill health due to their job, and specific stressors can lead to physical, psychological, and behavioural outcomes. The driver's state of mind and body has a significant role in how well they operate the bus. The primary objective of this systematic review is to analyse the factors affecting the mental health of drivers around the globe.

Methods

The review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidance. APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Regional Business News, Business Source Ultimate, CINAHL Ultimate, and SPORT Discus were searched for relevant studies. The initial search returned 102 studies that were subjected to further screening using the inclusion and exclusion criteria and 11 studies were selected for the review.

Results

This review identified alcohol and substance abuse, job stress and poor working conditions, occupational factors, driver-passenger communication tension and complex driving environments as the major factors that affect the mental health of bus drivers.

Conclusion

The findings of this review will help researchers, governments, policy makers, bus companies and bus drivers’ unions to identify key areas of priority to focus on when considering the mental health of bus drivers. Future studies need to use qualitative method to further explore bus drivers lived experience of mental health issues and more women drivers need to be considered in these studies.