Effects of Occupational Hazards on Job Stress and Mental Health of Factory Workers and Miners: A Propensity Score Analysis

Abstract

This study is to evaluate the effects of different occupational hazards on job stress and mental health of factory workers and miners. A total of 6120 workers from factories and mining enterprises in seven districts and one district of Urumqi were determined using the stratified cluster random sampling method. The Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) were used to evaluate the effects of occupational hazard factors on job stress and mental health of workers. The propensity score analysis was used to control the confounding factors. The occupational hazards affecting job stress of workers were asbestos dust (OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.09-1.55), benzene (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.10-1.41), and noise (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.22-1.59). The occupational hazards affecting the mental health of workers were coal dust (OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.02-1.38), asbestos dust (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.32-1.92), benzene (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.13-1.47), and noise (OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.07-1.42). Different occupational hazards have certain influence on job stress and mental health of factory workers and miners. The enhancements in occupational hazard and risk assessment, occupational health examination, and occupational protection should be taken to relieve job stress and enhance the mental health of factory workers and miners.