Abstract
BACKGROUND: Occupational drivers in India face unique challenges, including long working hours, irregular schedules, and limited access to healthcare resources. Understanding these aspects is crucial for developing targeted interventions to improve their overall health outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 male occupational drivers aged 21-60 years in Central India. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire comprising three sections: sociodemographic information, the Health Literacy Questionnaire, and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) to assess psychological well-being. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression using SPSS version 25. RESULTS: The mean health literacy score was 26.4 ± 6.8, indicating moderate health literacy levels. The mean GHQ-12 score was 15.7 ± 4.9, with 46% of participants scoring above the threshold suggestive of psychological distress. A significant negative correlation was found between health literacy and psychological distress (r = -0.612, P < 0.001), indicating that lower health literacy is associated with higher psychological distress among drivers. CONCLUSION: The study highlights a significant association between health literacy and psychological well-being among occupational drivers in Central India. Interventions aimed at improving health literacy could potentially enhance psychological well-being in this population.