Substantiation of topical directions of prevention and correction of occupational stress among locomotive crew workers

Introduction. The activities of locomotive crew workers are associated with severe and prolonged psychoemotional stress caused by frequent acute stressful situations. Such conditions contribute to the development of maladaptive mental states such as occupational stress, burnout syndrome, and depressive disorders. According to a number of studies, more than 65% of machinists have a high level of chronic stress, while stress tolerance decreases significantly after 5–7 years of work experience. Timely detection and prevention of these maladaptive conditions becomes critically important as a condition for maintaining mental and emotional health and preventing occupational diseases.

The study aims to consider the features of occupational stress among locomotive crew workers in order to substantiate the current directions of their prevention and correction.

Materials and methods. The study involved 100 male drivers and 64 assistant drivers, aged 19 to 60, who worked in the passenger railway transportation system. The psychodiagnostic complex included: The Maslach Burnout Questionnaire, the Neuropsychic Disadaptation Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Scale, Y.V. Scherbatykh's Method of Complex Assessment of Stress Manifestations, the Holmes and Rahe Stress Resistance and Social Adaptation Scale. The assessment of labor process stress class was carried out according to R 2.2.2006-05.

Results. Machinists showed higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p<0.05); reduction of personal achievements is the leading factor of burnout in both groups (32.0% and 30.1%). The third degree of burnout was recorded in 34.0% of machinists and 22.2% of assistants. Machinists also have more pronounced manifestations of professional maladaptation, stress load and low stress tolerance than assistants (p<0.05). A low level of stress resistance was found in 54.0% of machinists and 31.7% of assistants. Employees over 40 years of age and with more than 5 years of experience have the least favorable conditions. Limitations. A single data collection does not allow us to draw conclusions about the causal relationships between variables. The limited sample size, gender, and geography reduces the representativeness of the results. The influence of seasonal and shift factors that could affect the psycho-emotional state of employees was not considered.

Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the need to develop and implement a multi-level system of psychoprophylaxis and psychological support aimed at preventing the development of maladaptive conditions, increasing stress tolerance and maintaining the professional health of locomotive crew workers. Increased attention should be paid to the mental state of machinists, age and length of service characteristics and family factors should be taken into account, and the condition of employees with previously identified maladaptive mental states should be regularly monitored.

Ethics. The completed study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contributions:
Glukhov D.V. — concept, research design, editing;
Kostenko N.A. — concept, design of the study;
Eremeeva A.G. — research design, data processing, text writing, editing;
Kalinina S.A. — research design, text writing, editing;
Karmazina E.V. — data collection and processing, text writing;
Borisova E.V. — data analysis and interpretation, text writing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 16.10.2025 / Accepted: 23.10.2025 / Published: 21.11.2025

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