Effects of dietary patterns on driving behaviours among professional truck drivers: the mediating effect of fatigue

Objective:The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the dietary patterns of truck drivers on their driving behaviours and the mediation effect of fatigue between these factors. Methods: A sample of 389 male truck drivers from a transport company in Suzhou, China completed the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), the Positive Driver Behaviours Scale (PDBS) and the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). The relationship among dietary patterns, fatigue and driving behaviour was examined using pathway analysis. Results: Four dietary patterns were identified based on principal component analysis (PCA): animal-derived foods, staple foods, snacks and vegetables. The pathwayanalysisshowed thata) the vegetable-rich pattern had a direct positive impact on positive driving behaviour (β=0.211, p< 0.001); b) the animal-derived pattern pattern had a direct positive impact on errors (β=0.094, p< 0.05) and ordinary violations (β=0.071, p< 0.05) ; c) the snacks pattern had a direct negative impact on positive driving behaviour (β=-0.191, p< 0.001); and d)fatigue mediated the effect of dietary patterns on driving behaviours (p< 0.001). Conclusions: Overall, truck driver’s driving behaviours are correlated withtheir dietary patterns. Drivers who preferred vegetable and staple food reported more positive behaviour of truck drivers, while the animal-derived food and snacks patterns wererelated to drivers’ dangerous behaviour. The experience of fatigue could explained the underlyingmechanism between them.