Information technology and road transport industry: how does IT affect the lorry driver?

A quasi-experimental design was used to study the effect of on board computer-systems (OBC-systems) on the Dutch lorry drivers’ psychosocial work environment (i.e., control and demands) and coinciding mental health (i.e., need for recovery after work) and job attitudes (i.e., organisational commitme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied ergonomics 2004-07, Vol.35 (4), p.313-320
Main Authors: de Croon, Einar M., Kuijer, P.Paul F.M., Broersen, Jake P.J., Frings-Dresen, Monique H.W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Automobile Driving
Biological and medical sciences
Ergonomics. Human factors
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Information technology
Interventions
Job Satisfaction
Mental Health
Netherlands
Occupational Health
Occupational psychology
Occupational stress
Prospective Studies
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Roads & highways
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires
Transportation industry
User-Computer Interface
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Summary:A quasi-experimental design was used to study the effect of on board computer-systems (OBC-systems) on the Dutch lorry drivers’ psychosocial work environment (i.e., control and demands) and coinciding mental health (i.e., need for recovery after work) and job attitudes (i.e., organisational commitment). The intervention group ( n=26) started working with an OBC-system between 1998 and 2000 and was compared with two matched reference groups ( n=26 in both groups). All participants were from a cohort of 650 drivers who participated in a prospective study on occupational stress and health. All outcome variables were quantified by standardised and validated questionnaires. Results showed that the application of OBC-systems negatively affected the drivers’ job control and organisational commitment. However, OBC-systems did not influence the drivers’ psychological job demands and need for recovery after work. Accordingly, it is concluded that the application of OBC-systems negatively affects the lorry driver's psychosocial work environment and job attitudes.
ISSN:0003-6870
1872-9126
DOI:10.1016/j.apergo.2004.03.009