Assessing the relationship between mental workload, sleep quality, and work fatigue among oil and gas workers in Jambi Province: A Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)

Abstract

Abstract Background: Occupational fatigue among oil and gas workers can have perilous consequences related to safety, health, economy, and wellbeing aspect. This makes it necessary to discover major factors related to fatigue and implement appropriate prevention programs and education. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental workload, sleep quality, and occupational fatigue in oil and gas office workers in Jambi Province. Design and methods: Mental workload, sleep quality, and occupational fatigue were measured using the NASA-Total Load Index (TLX), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Indonesian Questionnaire Measuring Feelings of Work Fatigue (KAUPK2), respectively. A Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to determine the association between mental workload, sleep quality, and occupational fatigue. Results: Out of the 117 oil and gas workers in Jambi Province who participated in this study, 58.6% were male, 54.3% had Senior High School or less, 85.3% were not smoking, and 88.8% were married. The mean with a standard deviation of body height, weight, and mass index were 165.35 ± 5.46 cm, 64.65 ± 6.89 kg, and 23.64 ± 2.23, respectively. Respondents had working experience from 0.17 to 34 years with a mean of 16.23 and a standard deviation of 8.93 years. The PLS-SEM model illustrated that the direct effect of mental workload on occupational fatigue was not significant (path coefficient: 0.179; p <0.036). Meanwhile, the mental workload had a significant effect on sleep quality (path coefficient: -0.405; p 0.000), which significantly affected fatigue (path coefficient: -0.035; p = 0.709). This indicated that the effect of workload on fatigue was fully mediated by sleep quality. Conclusions: The effect of sleep quality was very significant to overcome the fatigue level of an employee when the mental workload increases. This study revealed that occupational fatigue may be reduced by implementing mental workload coping strategies, regularly measuring, and a sleep hygiene program among oil and gas workers.