Relationship between Occupational stress, Health hazard appraisal, Psychological resources, and Well-being among Rural-dwelling Sewage Workers

Background: Exposure to occupational hazards adversely affects the sewage workers’ health and the degree of occupational stress. Sufficient psychological resources enable individuals to manage stress and enhance their mental health. This resilience support may be one of the elements that favorably affects psychological wellbeing positively. Aims: To determine the association between occupational stress, health hazards appraisal, psychological resources, and well-being among rural-dwelling sewage workers. Design: A cross-sectional correlational study. Methods: The study included 400 sewage workers randomly selected from sewage treatment stations in El-Behera governorate, Egypt. Data were collected using five tools: The Socio-demographic Characteristics and Working Profile Questionnaire, Workplace Stress Scale, Observational Checklist of Sewage Workers Regarding Safety and Health at Work, Compound Psychological Capital Scale, and Psychological Well-being Scale. Results: The findings revealed a significant association between occupational health hazards and various aspects of workers' well-being. Higher exposure to occupational hazards was correlated with increased occupational stress and reduced psychological capital and well-being. Psychological resources, including optimism and resilience, appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of occupational stress. Conclusion: The study highlights the detrimental impact of occupational hazards and stress on sewage workers' psychological well-being. Enhancing psychological resources may serve as a buffer, promoting resilience and improving mental health. Implications: The findings underscore the importance of workplace interventions to address occupational hazards and support workers' psychological well-being. Employers and policymakers should prioritize strategies to improve safety and foster resilience among sewage workers.