ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and adverse mental health outcomes among long distance truck drivers in Zambia. This is the first study to quantitatively investigate PTE exposure and mental health outcomes among long distance truck drivers in Zambia and examine differences across country of origin. Male truck drivers were recruited along three commonly used trucking routes in Zambia. Participants included truck drivers originating from Zambia, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zimbabwe. We assessed exposure to PTEs and adverse mental health outcomes. Descriptive statistics were examined. Following descriptive and bivariate analyses, a series of one-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine differences in the number of PTEs and mental health problems across country of origin, with Bonferroni post-hoc analyses. A total of 234 truck drivers participated in the study, with the majority from Zambia (38%). Participants reported an average of more than three traumatic events experienced (M = 3.79; SD = 3.38). Findings indicated that Zimbabweans experienced a significantly higher number of trauma types on the Life Events Checklist (M = 5.54; SD = 3.50) compared to truckers from DRC and Tanzania (both p < .000). Zambian truck drivers reported significantly higher symptom severity from the Global Post Trauma Symptom Scale-Zambia (M = 11.98; SD = 6.79) compared to truckers from Zimbabwe, DRC, and Tanzania (all p < .001). Findings indicate the need for mental health programming for long distance truckers in Zambia which addresses high exposure to PTEs and subsequent mental health problems, especially among Zimbabwean and Zambian truckers.

摘要

本研究的目的是检查赞比亚长途卡车司机的潜在创伤事件 (PTE) 和不良心理健康结果。这是第一项对赞比亚长途卡车司机的 PTE 暴露和心理健康结果进行定量调查的研究，并研究了不同来源国的差异。在赞比亚的三个常用卡车运输路线上招募了男性卡车司机。参与者包括来自赞比亚、坦桑尼亚、刚果民主共和国 (DRC) 和津巴布韦的卡车司机。我们评估了 PTE 的暴露和不良的心理健康结果。检查了描述性统计数据。在进行描述性和双变量分析之后，进行了一系列单向方差分析，以检查不同原籍国 PTE 数量和心理健康问题的差异，使用 Bonferroni 事后分析。共有 234 名卡车司机参与了这项研究，其中大多数来自赞比亚 (38%)。参与者报告平均经历了三个以上的创伤事件（M = 3.79; 标准 差 = 3.38)。调查结果表明，与来自刚果民主共和国和坦桑尼亚的卡车司机相比，津巴布韦人在生活事件清单上经历了更多的创伤类型（ M = 5.54；SD  = 3.50）（均p < .000）。与津巴布韦、刚果民主共和国和坦桑尼亚的卡车司机相比，赞比亚卡车司机报告的全球创伤后症状量表 - 赞比亚 ( M = 11.98; SD  = 6.79) 的症状严重程度明显更高（所有p< .001)。调查结果表明，赞比亚需要为长途卡车司机制定心理健康计划，以解决 PTE 的高风险和随后的心理健康问题，尤其是津巴布韦和赞比亚卡车司机。