"Exploring Indian Long-Haul Truck Drivers’ Mental Health and Well-Being" by Nayla Ugardes, Vanesa Smielak et al.
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Faculty Advisor

Dionne Stephens

Author Biographical Statement

Nayla Ugardes (she/her) is a Bridge medical student at Florida State University with a background in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology from FIU. Her passion for psychiatry is rooted in a commitment to improving mental health care for underserved communities. Through research with the Public Health Research Institute of India and her honors thesis, she explored the impact of social determinants on health. With a community-driven focus, Nayla is dedicated to advocating for patient-centered, equitable care and hopes to address systemic barriers to healthcare as a future psychiatrist.

Abstract

Long-haul truck drivers (LHTD) play a fundamental role in India’s economy, significantly contributing to the country’s GDP and are essential in the transportation sector. Extensive literature has highlighted concerns related to the LHTD’s working conditions, including long working hours, inadequate sleep, isolation, and the effects on their health and wellbeing. However, current literature lacks information surrounding the numerous risk and protective factors that configure the lifestyles of Indian LHTD. Aiming to explore how these factors affect physical and mental health, the present study assessed 812 LHTD’s inhabiting Mysore, Karnataka through a structured interview that assessed multiple dimensions of their lifestyle. Our findings revealed that 35% of participants reported being unable to stop or control worrying for several days of the week, and 10% had self-harming thoughts. 81.4% of participants claimed they use tobacco, and 69.7% of the drivers consume alcohol regularly. Furthermore, 34.9% of participants reported having sex without a condom with more than one partner. 93.3% reported four or more days of moderate activity in seven days and 82.6% of the long-haul truck drivers did not report having trouble falling asleep, using sleeping pills, or other insomnia symptoms. It is hypothesized that these protective factors might exert a buffering effect on LHTD’s health. Implications for policymakers and stakeholders highlight the importance of creating targeted interventions that address targeted risk factors while enhancing protective measures in Indian drivers and minimizing negative health outcomes. Thus, it is crucial to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles that incorporate these protective factors to prevent communicable diseases and enhance overall quality of life.

DOI

10.25148/FIUURJ.3.1.9

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