Subjektiv eingeschätzter Beanspruchungszustand von im Schichtdienst tätigen Bus- und Straßenbahnfahrer*innen sowie Verwaltungsangestellten eines Verkehrsunternehmens

Professional drivers in passenger transport are exposed to various stresses in their work. In addition to shift work these include a high level of responsibility towards passengers and ensuring punctuality by adhering to timetables. The aim of this study is to identify the consequences of psychological stress in bus and tram drivers working shifts and to compare their stress levels and sleep behavior with employees working in the administration of the same company but without shift work.

A total of 24 bus and tram drivers with shift work (age 46.3 ± 11.0 years) and 29 administrative employees of the same company without shift work (age 46.5 ± 10.5 years) took part in the study. Subjective stress was recorded using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and inability to recover.

Bus and tram drivers complained of significantly poorer sleep quality compared to administrative staff (PSQI total score 7.0 ± 2.2 vs. 5.6 ± 3.3 points; p_{Mann-Whitney U‑Test} = 0.038). Of the drivers, 69% were categorized as poor sleepers compared to 41% of administrative staff ( \(p_{\text{Chi}^2}\) ${\mathit{\text{p}}}_{{\text{Chi}}^2}$  = 0.037). The subjectively assessed mental health, daytime sleepiness and inability to recover did not differ between the two groups.

Due to the high proportion of bus and tram drivers with limited sleep quality, there is a need for action in this transport company to improve sleep in this occupational group.