Traffic Congestion, Perceived Control, and Psychophysiological Stress Among Urban Bus Drivers

The operation of public transit vehicles in urban centers is a highly stressful job. There has been, however, little detailed analysis of what specific characteristics of the psychosocial or physical job environment of public transit operators contribute to the high levels of job stress associated w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied psychology 1991-10, Vol.76 (5), p.658-663
Main Authors: Evans, Gary W, Carrère, Sybil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Arousal - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Buses
Catecholamines
Drivers
Employment
Environmental Stress
Epinephrine - urine
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Internal External Locus of Control
Internal-External Control
Job Satisfaction
Los Angeles
Male
Mass transit
Mental stress
Middle Aged
Motivation. Job satisfaction. Attitude
Norepinephrine - urine
Occupational Diseases - psychology
Occupational psychology
Occupational Stress
Occupations
Perceived Control
Psychological aspects
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychophysiology
Public transportation
Social research
Statistical analysis
Stress
Stress, Psychological - complications
Traffic
Traffic congestion
Transportation
Urban areas
Urban Population
Urine
Work environment
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Summary:The operation of public transit vehicles in urban centers is a highly stressful job. There has been, however, little detailed analysis of what specific characteristics of the psychosocial or physical job environment of public transit operators contribute to the high levels of job stress associated with this occupation. In the present study, we show a high degree of association between exposure to peak traffic conditions and on-the-job elevations of urinary catecholamines. These significant relations remain after incorporating various controls for possible selection factors (e.g., job seniority) and health-relevant parameters (e.g., age, smoking). Furthermore, we show that reductions in perceived control on the job partially account for the linkages between traffic congestion and psychophysiological stress.
ISSN:0021-9010
1939-1854
DOI:10.1037/0021-9010.76.5.658