Investigating the mental health of intercity public transportation drivers

Introduction: Drivers’ role is essential in road accidents. In other words, they deal with public safety and health. The current research investigated the mental health of intercity public transportation drivers.  Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical research was conducted on 70 intercity public transportation drivers in Gorgan City, Iran. After coordinating with the Intercity Bus Organization of Gorgan, the drivers were randomly selected. They completed the demographic information and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The data were analyzed using SPSS 23, descriptive statistics, and independent t-test.  Results: Sixty-nine (98.6%) drivers were married, with a mean age of 39.05 ± 5.82 years. The ethnicity of most drivers (81.4%) was Fars. The mean duration of driving was 10.15 ± 4.45 years. The highest general health score was related to the anxiety and insomnia subscale, equal to 15.17 ± 3.98 (P= 0.813), and the lowest score was related to depression, equal to 10.55 ± 4.05 (P= 0.229). The level of depression was higher in Fars drivers than in those with other ethnicities (P= 0.008).  Conclusion: The intercity public transportation drivers have mental health problems, mostly encompassing anxiety and insomnia. Given the role of drivers in society, it is recommended that municipal officials pay more attention to their mental health.