Investigation on occupational stress and mental health condition of occupationally noise-exposed workers in an electronic factory

Objective To investigate occupational stress and mental health condition of occupationally noise-exposed workers.

Methods  Totally 172 workers, including 95 noise-exposed workers and 77 staff in an electronic factory, were surveyed with both Mclean's occupational stress questionnaire and Goldberg's general health questionnaire.

Results  The noise level at workplaces varied from 85.0 to 89.5 dB(A). The total score of mental health status of the noise-exposed workers was 28.9 ±3.7 with abnormality of 67.3%, while the score of staff was 25.9 ±3.8 with the abnormality of 18.2%. The scores of occupational stress, coping ability and job satisfaction, derived from the Mclean's occupational stress questionnaire, of the noise-exposed workers were also significantly higher than that of the staff in this factory(P < 0.05 or 0.01). The multiple regression analysis showed that mental health status was related to noise exposure and the change of coping ability(F=10.45, R²=0.362, P < 0.05).

Conclusion  Noise exposure at workplaces could cause workers'occupational stress and subsequent mental health problem. We should pay more attention to such health problem.