‘LIVING TWO LIVES’

Abstract

The work pattern of North Sea oil workers (typically, 2–3 weeks offshore alternating with a similar period of leave) imposes significant demands on the families concerned. The effects of ‘intermittent husband absence’ were recognized in the 1980s, but little recent research has focused on the adaptation of offshore families in spite of changes in the industry, in local communities, and in society more widely. The material reported here was derived from survey responses (N = 245), and from telephone interviews (N = 39) with spouses of men working offshore in 2001–2002. Demographic data, descriptive material, and literature findings are drawn together and illustrated with quotations to present a picture of spouses’ perceptions, both positive and negative, of offshore lifestyles. Particular areas of interest are responses to the repeated partings and reunions involved in offshore work; the impact of intermittent father absences on children; communications with the absent partner; and employment outside the home and its role in the lives of offshore spouses. Spouses’ concerns about offshore safety and job security are also noted. Relative to earlier research, the findings present a more favourable impression of the adaptation and satisfaction of offshore families.

Le mode de travail des employés travaillant sur les installations pétrolières dans la mer du Nord (normalement 2 à 3 semaines offshore, alternant avec une période similaire de congé) impose des sacrifices importants aux familles concernées. Les effets de l'absence périodique du mari étaient déjà rapportés dans les années 1980, mais les adaptations effectués par les familles offshore n'ont pas été étudiés récemment malgré les changements fondamentaux dans l'industrie, dans les communautés locales, et dans la société au sens plus large. Les informations rapportées ici sont dérivées des réponses au sondage (N = 245) et des interviews téléphoniques (N = 39) avec des épouses des employés travaillant offshore dans la période 2001–2002. Les données démographiques, le matériel descriptif et les résultats de la recherche de littérature sont résumées et illustrées avec des citations pour générer une image des perceptions (positives et négatives) des épouses du style de vie offshore. D'un intérêt particulier sont les réponses aux séparations et réunions répétées caractéristique pour le travail offshore; l'effet de l'absence périodique du père sur les enfants; les conversations avec le mari absent; et l'emploi hors de la maison et son rôle dans les vies des épouses offshore. Les soucis des épouses concernant l'exigence de sécurité offshore et la sécurité d'emploi, sont aussi décrits. Par rapport aux recherches préalables, les résultats présentent une impression plus favorable de l'adaptation et satisfaction des familles offshore.

Keywords:

• offshore work
• spouses
• family lifestyles
• North Sea employment
• oil and gas industry

Keywords:

• travail offshore
• épouses
• style de vie familiale
• emploi dans la mer du Nord
• industrie pétrolière et gaz

Participants in this study were spouses of personnel who took part in research into psychosocial aspects of offshore work funded by the UK Health and Safety Executive, Offshore Safety Division. The authors gratefully acknowledge the co-operation of all concerned in making this work possible.

The second and third authors made equal contributions to the work; their names are ordered alphabetically in the publication of this article.

Notes

1. In this paper, no distinction is made between married couples and those cohabiting in long-term relationships; the terms ‘husband’ and ‘partner’ are used interchangeably. The term ‘spouse’ refers to the wife or female partner.

2. Quotations from the interview records are indicated by ^†.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katharine R. Parkes

Katharine Parkes (PhD) is Reader in Applied Psychology, and the leader of the Stress Research Group in the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford. Her research, funded by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is in the area of work-related stress, but the research is broadly based, and extends into the fields of organizational psychology, health psychology, and individual differences. Much of her recent work has been in the offshore oil and gas industry. She is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and has published widely in the areas of psychosocial work characteristics and their implications for working effectiveness, affective well-being, and physical health. Address: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD, UK. [email: [email protected]]

Susan C. Carnell

Susan Carnell graduated from the University of Oxford with BA (Hons) in Experimental Psychology in 2000. She subsequently joined the department as Research Assistant funded by the HSE, and contributed to the survey and telephone interviews during the first phase of the present work. She recently completed a doctorate in the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Unit at University College, London, and currently holds a Research Fellowship in the Unit

Elly L. Farmer

Elly Farmer graduated from the University of Oxford with BA (Hons) in Experimental Psychology in 2001. She was subsequently appointed as a Research Assistant on the HSE project, and contributed to the second phase of the survey and interview work described. She is currently undertaking clinical psychology training for the degree of D.Clin.Psy at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK