Job-related factors associated with tobacco use among Chinese food delivery riders: A cross-sectional survey

Chen Li; Dan Wu; Christopher Bullen; Jinsong Chen; Francis Cheung; Yonglin Zheng; Hongchen Luo

doi:10.18332/tid/186930

Job-related factors associated with tobacco use among Chinese food delivery riders: A cross-sectional survey

Tob Induc Dis. 2024 May 15:22. doi: 10.18332/tid/186930. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Chen Li¹, Dan Wu^{1

2}, Christopher Bullen³, Jinsong Chen^{3

4}, Francis Cheung⁵, Yonglin Zheng¹, Hongchen Luo¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
² Shenzhen Humanities and Social Sciences Key Research Bases, Center for Mental Health, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
³ The National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁴ School of Law, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.

Abstract

Introduction: Food delivery drivers represent a rapidly growing occupational group in China in recent years. Their unique work patterns such as a complex work environment and high time-pressure may subject them to more severe tobacco use issues compared to other professions. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of tobacco use within this group and examine the underlying reasons behind it.

Methods: A cross-sectional, multistage sampling design was conducted to select 1879 food delivery riders from Guangzhou and Shenzhen. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from August to December 2022. Chi-squared analysis and binary logistic regression analysis, adjusted for factors including gender, education level, type of employment, alcohol use, job-related uncertainty stress, and emotional exhaustion, were used to explore the key factors associated with smoking among this occupational group.

Results: Altogether, 65.5% of individuals in this sample were smokers, with 69.5% among males and 26.2% among females. Factors found to be significantly associated with smoking behavior were male sex (AOR=5.48; 95% CI: 3.74-8.02), education level of junior high school or lower (AOR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.21-2.11), education level of senior high school (AOR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.18-1.95), full-time job (AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.18-1.80), alcohol use (AOR=3.91; 95% CI: 3.14-4.87), moderate level of job-related uncertainty stress (AOR=0.58; 95% CI: 0.42-0.81), high level of emotional exhaustion (AOR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.17-2.10) and moderate level of emotional exhaustion (AOR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.00-2.30).

Conclusions: Demographic factors like gender, education level, job type, and substance use should be considered in designing smoking cessation campaigns for this group. Improving work conditions, reducing emotional exhaustion, and managing stress may also reduce smoking and enhance the well-being of these riders.

Keywords: emotional exhaustion; food delivery rider; job-related uncertainty stress; smoking; tobacco use.

Grants and funding

FUNDING This study was partially supported by Shenzhen University-Lingnan University Joint Research Program (Grant No. 202202005), Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project (Grant No. GD23YSH09), and Shenzhen Natural Science Fund (the Stable Support Plan Program 20220811090420002).