Abstract
The recurrent absence of workers from home associated with fly-in fly-out (FIFO) work practice has the potential to affect the partners of the workers. This study aimed to examine the mental and physical health of partners of FIFO workers and compare their health-related behaviours during on-and off-shift periods. Partners of FIFO workers in Australia (N=248) completed an online survey. Partners reported higher sleep duration (7.3 ± 1.4 vs 6.4 ± 1.3 hours, p < .001) and better sleep quality during off-shift nights compared to on-shift nights. Among the current smokers (16.9%), partners smoked more cigarettes per day during on-shift periods than off-shift (13.1 ± 8.2 vs 11.6 ± 7.6, p = .034), but there was no difference in alcohol consumption at risky levels. Partners also consumed similar portions of fruits and vegetables and engaged in similar minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise per day during on-and off-shift days. Majority of partners had good physical health status (85.1%), but risk of psychological distress was high (50.4%). Interventions could target assisting multiple health behaviour changes and reducing psychological distress by supporting partners to adapt to and cope with the demands/stressors of FIFO lifestyles, particularly in the absence of workers.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 78-97 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Community, Work and Family |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 20 Jul 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2024 |
Bibliographical note
OA via the T&F AgreementThe authors are grateful to the Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and Research Stipend Scholarship scheme of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and Curtin University, Australia, awarded to Bernard Yeboah-Asiamah Asare (Curtin ID: 17619778; Aberdeen ID: 51987326) for funding this study.
Data Availability Statement
Data availability statementThe data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [BYAA]. The data are not publicly available due to ethical restrictions and privacy issues.
Keywords
- psychological distress
- physical health
- FIFO
- rotation work
- health behaviours
- partners
- Australia