Occupational Stress among Rural Manufacturing Workers: The Role of Work Fatigue and Job Demands
Keywords:
Cross-Sectional Study, Occupational Health, Psychosocial Risk, Rural Industry, Workplace Mental HealthAbstract
Background: The manufacturing sector plays a crucial role in driving economic growth; however, it often exposes workers to occupational stress that impacts their health and productivity. Objective: This study aimed to examine factors associated with occupational stress among manufacturing workers in rural Indonesia. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 55 employees in the dry production division of PT X using total sampling. Work stress was assessed using a questionnaire developed in accordance with Indonesian occupational safety and health requirements, while job demands were assessed using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III (COPSOQ III) - Demands at Work (short version). Work fatigue was assessed using the L77 Lakassidaya Reaction Timer. Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate analyses, followed by multiple linear regression. Results: Most participants were aged 35 years or older (76.4%), male (72.7%), high school graduates (72.7%), and had more than 10 years of work experience (65.5%). Bivariate analysis revealed that education, job demands, and work fatigue were significantly associated with occupational stress (p < 0.05). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, only work fatigue remained independently associated with occupational stress (B = 0.056, standardized β = 0.364, p = 0.005), whereas job demands were no longer statistically significant after adjustment (p = 0.066). Conclusion: Work fatigue was the only independent factor associated with occupational stress among manufacturing workers after adjustment for other variables. These findings suggest that workplace strategies aimed at reducing work fatigue may contribute to better occupational mental health. However, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between work fatigue and occupational stress.
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