The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study

Objectives: This study gives an overview of the impact of FIFO work on workers’ mental health before and during COVID-19, using three comparison samples as well as norm data. It provides a timely update on FIFO workers' mental health and how it has been impacted during COVID-19. Method: Compari...

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Main Authors: Gilbert, Jessica, Fruhen, Laura, Burton, C.T., Parker, Sharon
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93022
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author Gilbert, Jessica
Fruhen, Laura
Burton, C.T.
Parker, Sharon
author_facet Gilbert, Jessica
Fruhen, Laura
Burton, C.T.
Parker, Sharon
author_sort Gilbert, Jessica
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objectives: This study gives an overview of the impact of FIFO work on workers’ mental health before and during COVID-19, using three comparison samples as well as norm data. It provides a timely update on FIFO workers' mental health and how it has been impacted during COVID-19. Method: Comparisons are conducted with three participant samples, namely two FIFO worker samples (one before and one during the Covid pandemic) and a purposefully sampled benchmark sample, and Australian population norm data on mental health. Constructs included in surveys were psychological distress, burnout, suicide intention, as well as social, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. Results: FIFO workers were found to have worse mental health than the matched benchmark sample, and the Australian norm samples pre-COVID-19. Differences between FIFO workers and the matched benchmark sample persisted for psychological distress and burnout after controlling for demographic factors. Mental ill-health and poor well-being were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. Conclusions: FIFO workers need to be considered an at-risk group for adverse mental health outcomes, and this is even more so the case during COVID-19. Findings are attributable to the experience of FIFO work as well as the demographic character of the workforce.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-930222023-09-06T00:34:52Z The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study Gilbert, Jessica Fruhen, Laura Burton, C.T. Parker, Sharon Social Sciences Psychology, Multidisciplinary Psychology Remote work wellbeing burnout psychological distress FIFO PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS BEHAVIORS STABILITY VALIDITY Objectives: This study gives an overview of the impact of FIFO work on workers’ mental health before and during COVID-19, using three comparison samples as well as norm data. It provides a timely update on FIFO workers' mental health and how it has been impacted during COVID-19. Method: Comparisons are conducted with three participant samples, namely two FIFO worker samples (one before and one during the Covid pandemic) and a purposefully sampled benchmark sample, and Australian population norm data on mental health. Constructs included in surveys were psychological distress, burnout, suicide intention, as well as social, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. Results: FIFO workers were found to have worse mental health than the matched benchmark sample, and the Australian norm samples pre-COVID-19. Differences between FIFO workers and the matched benchmark sample persisted for psychological distress and burnout after controlling for demographic factors. Mental ill-health and poor well-being were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. Conclusions: FIFO workers need to be considered an at-risk group for adverse mental health outcomes, and this is even more so the case during COVID-19. Findings are attributable to the experience of FIFO work as well as the demographic character of the workforce. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93022 10.1080/00049530.2023.2170280 English http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD fulltext
spellingShingle Social Sciences
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Psychology
Remote work
wellbeing
burnout
psychological distress
FIFO
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
BEHAVIORS
STABILITY
VALIDITY
Gilbert, Jessica
Fruhen, Laura
Burton, C.T.
Parker, Sharon
The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study
title The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study
title_full The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study
title_fullStr The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study
title_full_unstemmed The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study
title_short The mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during COVID-19: a comparison study
title_sort mental health of fly-in fly-out workers before and during covid-19: a comparison study
topic Social Sciences
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Psychology
Remote work
wellbeing
burnout
psychological distress
FIFO
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
BEHAVIORS
STABILITY
VALIDITY
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93022