https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1381-4981
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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.
Acknowledgement
We express our sincere gratitude to all partners of FIFO workers who took the time to participate and contribute to this study.
Data availability statement
The 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.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Bernard Yeboah-Asiamah Asare
Bernard Yeboah-Asiamah Asare is currently a PhD student at Curtin University, Australia, and the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Bernard holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Ghana and a Bachelor’s degree in Herbal medicine from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. Bernard's research interest lie in quantitative research in a wide range of areas including epidemiology, behavioural Sciences and Occupational Health. In 2019, Bernard was awarded an Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance Postgraduate Scholarship to explore the health and well-being of fly-in fly-out (FIFO)/rotation workers and their families in Australia, which aims to inform interventions targeted at supporting and promoting the health of workers and their families.
Dominika Kwasnicka
Dominika Kwasincka is a Senior Research Fellow in Digital Health at the Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, at the University of Melbourne. Dom holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen, a Master of Science degree in Public Health and Health Services Research and a PhD in Health Psychology from Newcastle University, UK. She is a behavioural scientist who has diverse interests in health psychology, digital health and research methods focusing on individuals. Dom leads the Open Digital Health initiative that promotes reusing open digital health solutions across contexts and settings. Dom is a member of the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS).
Suzanne Robinson
Suzanne Robinson is lead for the Health Economics and Data Analytics Discipline and co-Director of the Curtin Health Research and Data Analytics Hub at Curtin University. Suzanne is currently the Chair and Head of Deakin Health Economics at Deakin University, Australia. Suzanne holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public and Social Policy Management, a Master’s degree in Health Economics and Health Policy, and a PhD in Health Services Research from the University of Birmingham, UK. Suzanne is the Curtin lead for a number of industry partnerships including ones with Western Australia Primary Health Alliance and Western Australia Country Health Services. Suzanne also works closely with other health organisations at the state, national and international levels. She’s led large partnership research projects to successful completion and been an expert advisor for a number of government organisations. She is currently the Rural and Remote Flagship Research and Education Director for the Digital Health Co-operative Research Centre. Suzanne is leading international research in digital health that includes a focus on virtual care and telehealth implementation; using health data in clinical and population decision making with a focus on the delivery of effective, efficient and equitable health services. Suzanne is a member of the International Health Economics Association, Australasian College of Health Service Management, Health Services Research Australia and New Zealand and Australian Health Economics Society.
Daniel Powell
Daniel Powell is a Lecturer in Health Psychology within the Institute of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Aberdeen. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of the West of England and a master’s degree in Health Psychology and a PhD Psychology from the University of Southampton. Daniel’s research typically uses intensive longitudinal methods (ecological momentary assessment) to investigate contextual and temporal influences on stress and fatigue, clinical symptoms, and self-regulation. Daniel is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), Full Member of its Division of Health Psychology (DHP) and a member of the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS).