Modelling the association between psychosocial work factors and risky driving: mediating roles of burnout and engagement

Introduction: Drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) face significant psychosocial work challenges that increase their job burnout and risky driving behaviours, affecting drivers' well-being and on-the-road safety. However, these psychosocial work challenges have received limited research attention in developing countries. This study explored the relationships among job demands, job resources, job burnout, job engagement, and risky driving behaviours in Ghanaian HGV drivers. Method: This cross-sectional survey collected data from 1,575 HGV drivers (truck and tanker drivers) in Tema, Ghana. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM)-SmartPLS. Results: High job demands is associated with high job burnout and risky driving behaviours among HGV drivers in Ghana, while job burnout positively correlates with the occurrence of risky driving behaviour. High job resources are associated with low job burnout and high job engagement among the drivers. However, high job resources did not have a statistically significant association with low risky driving behaviour among the drivers. Mediation analyses revealed that job burnout partially mediated the relationships between job demands and risky driving behaviour, and job resources and risky driving behaviour. Moreover, job engagement mediated the relationships between job resources and risky driving behaviour. Moreover, job resources significantly buffered the effects of job demands on job burnout. Job resources further moderated the influence of job burnout on risky driving behaviours. Conclusion: This study suggests that psychosocial work factors strongly influenced job burnout and associated risky driving behaviours among Ghanaian HGV drivers. Efforts to balance job demands and enhance support systems are critical to improving the health, safety, and well-being of these drivers and ultimately reducing road accidents in the country.