The influence of work characteristics on the need for recovery and experienced health: a study on coach drivers

Work characteristics, occupationally-induced fatigue, and health complaints were investigated on the basis of questionnaire data from 363 randomized coach drivers. The hypothesis was tested that, apart from high job demands and low job control, need for recovery is an indicator of occupationally-induced health complaints. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that need for recovery was a major predictor of psychosomatic complaints, sleep complaints, and complaints of emotional exhaustion in coach drivers. The influence of job demands and job control on health problems was moderately confirmed. The results of this study draw attention to the role of the need for recovery, as a sign of occupationally-induced fatigue and predictor of health complaints, in future research on occupational stress.