The relation of age, work ability index and stress-inducing factors among bus drivers

In this study the relation of subjective stressors and work ability index (WAI) and age was analysed. We investigated, whether subjective stressors and stress symptoms correlated higher with WAI or with age. The study population consisted of bus drivers from one public transport system (n=369). Work ability was tested by the WAI, stressors with structured questions, and stress symptoms with the Occupational Stress Questionnaire. The relation of stressors, WAI, and age was analysed by correlation coefficients and variance analysis. The correlation of WAI and age in this population was low. The correlation between stressors, stress symptoms and WAI was higher than that expected for this age. Subjective stressors and stress symptoms are strongly related to WAI. The WAI proved to be a good screening instrument for stress experience.