Dr Laurence Carnall
Academic and research departments
Clinical Intervention and Practice Research Group, School of Psychology.About
My research project
Psychosocial hazards and mental ill-health in the rail industryThis project examines the association between a range of exposures that are hazardous to mental health (psychosocial hazards), and scores on measures for PTSD, depression and anxiety, in rail industry workers. The exposures include witnessing and hearing about suicides, being threatened, verbally abused, physically and sexually assaulted. Previous industry led research has suggested that rail industry workers are prone to a higher level of exposure to these incidents. This project builds on industry research by examining the mental health of the workforce in more detail, as well as the association between exposures and mental health outcomes whilst controlling for a wider range of variables than previous studies.
This project examines the association between a range of exposures that are hazardous to mental health (psychosocial hazards), and scores on measures for PTSD, depression and anxiety, in rail industry workers. The exposures include witnessing and hearing about suicides, being threatened, verbally abused, physically and sexually assaulted. Previous industry led research has suggested that rail industry workers are prone to a higher level of exposure to these incidents. This project builds on industry research by examining the mental health of the workforce in more detail, as well as the association between exposures and mental health outcomes whilst controlling for a wider range of variables than previous studies.
Publications
This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety among U.K. rail workers. A cross-sectional survey examining exposure to seven psychosocial hazards (bullying/harassment; verbal abuse; physical and sexual assault; and hearing about, seeing the aftermath of, or witnessing a fatality), working conditions, physical health, and the impact of COVID-19 was administered to 3,912 participants. Outcome measures were the ITQ, PHQ-9, and GAD-7. Among trauma-exposed participants, 24.3% met the criteria for PTSD or CPTSD; 38.6% and 29.2% of all participants scored in the moderate-to-severe range on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression. Bullying/harassment was positively associated with GAD-7 scores, f 2 = .001, and PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 1.83–2.02. Hearing about and witnessing a fatality were associated with PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 1.77–2.10. Poorer ergonomics at work were positively associated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, f 2 = .001. Higher job satisfaction was associated with lower odds of PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 0.87–0.91, and negatively associated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, f 2 = .008–.01. Work intensity was associated with PTSD and CPTSD, ORs = 1.79–1.83, and positively associated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, f 2 = .02–.03. Reporting more physical health problems was associated with PTSD, OR = 1.07, and positively associated with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores, f 2 = .008–.01. The results suggest bullying/harassment and work intensity are important variables in employee mental health and could drive future research and industry initiatives.