Mental Workload and Work Stress among Train Drivers and Their Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Indonesia

Hidayat, Marizca Saras Chitra; Fuady, Ahmad; Wibowo, Suryo; Soemarko, Dewi; Purwito Adi, Nuri · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.53773/ijcom.v5i2.186.56-65

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Summary

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between mental workload, work stress, and associated occupational and sociodemographic factors among train drivers and co-drivers in DAOP 2 Bandung, Indonesia. The research was motivated by the high cognitive demands and safety responsibilities inherent in railway operations, which predispose workers to stress and fatigue. While international literature often links high workload directly to stress, this study aimed to clarify these associations within the Indonesian context, specifically examining how role conflict, work-life balance, and peer support influence stress levels. The study utilized secondary data from routine medical check-ups conducted in February 2025. The final sample comprised 106 active train drivers and co-drivers aged 18–55 with at least one year of service. Mental workload was assessed using the NASA-TLX questionnaire, and work stress was measured via the Job Stress Scale (JSS). Independent variables included occupational factors (job type, tenure, role conflict, coworker support, work-life balance) and sociodemographic factors (age, marital status, income, dependents). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, employing bivariate tests (Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney) and multivariate logistic regression to determine adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Results indicated that 53% of participants experienced high mental workload, yet 97% reported low to moderate work stress. No significant association was found between mental workload and work stress (p=0.190), nor with job type, tenure, age, marital status, income, dependents, or coworker support. However, work stress was significantly associated with role expectation conflict (p<0.001) and work-life balance (p=0.029) in bivariate analysis. After multivariate adjustment, only role expectation conflict remained a significant predictor. Workers with moderate to high role conflict had a 14.3-fold higher risk of experiencing work stress compared to those with low conflict (aOR 14.34; 95% CI 4.45–46.17). The study concludes that role conflict is the primary occupational determinant of work stress among this population, outweighing the impact of mental workload or demographic factors. The lack of association between workload and stress may be attributed to strong peer support or cultural coping mechanisms. The findings highlight the critical need for organizational interventions focused on clarifying role definitions, improving communication, and supporting work-life balance to mitigate psychosocial risks. The authors recommend routine psychosocial risk assessments and leadership training to enhance safety and well-being, while acknowledging limitations such as potential response bias and limited generalizability to other regions.

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• stress driving

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• Empirical Findings: self report data, physiological data
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model