FIFO partner issues surveyed
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FIFO workers’ partners face emotional and physical stress when their loved ones leave.
A new study looks at the challenges for partners of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers, showing their health and wellbeing are impacted by the demanding work cycle.
In the study, published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues, partners reported feeling happier and in better moods when their FIFO partner was home, but when their partner was away, they faced increased anxiety, especially if their own workload rose during that time.
While partners’ choices regarding sleep and diet remained consistent, alcohol consumption tended to increase when FIFO partners returned.
Researchers surveyed 44 FIFO partners daily over 28 days to assess their mental health and health behaviours across on-shift and off-shift cycles.
The results indicated that “daily increases in workload were associated with anxious affect”, whereas higher job control and social support correlated with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The participants, mostly women averaging 37 years old, generally had children (88.6 per cent) and jobs (70.5 per cent).
FIFO workers themselves averaged 7.39 years in FIFO roles, working rotational or regular 12-hour shifts. Just over 38 per cent of participants were classified as having high or very high psychological distress.
Partners experienced higher levels of depressive symptoms and less positive affect during on-shift days, but their moods generally improved when FIFO workers were at home.
“Separations from partners occasioned during on-shift days create physical and psychological distance,” the study noted, stressing the challenge for those handling family and household responsibilities alone.
Social support was shown to be vital, easing anxiety and depressive symptoms for partners on days they received higher support levels.
This aligns with previous findings on work-related stress, where adequate support has been shown to buffer high workloads' negative impacts.
However, social support was also linked with increased alcohol consumption, particularly on off-shift days.
According to the study, “The high intake of alcohol observed during off-days in partners could be attributed to the high level of alcohol consumption indicated among FIFO workers”, implying that shared social contexts are influencing alcohol intake.
Other health factors such as sleep quality, diet, and physical activity were generally unaffected by the FIFO cycle, though fluctuations in alcohol consumption and emotional wellbeing were evident.
Interventions promoting stress management, reducing social drinking, and supporting social networks could improve the wellbeing of FIFO partners.
The study highlights the need for better understanding of the daily health impacts on FIFO partners.
As the FIFO industry grows, the experts say support systems that recognise the specific challenges during both the presence and absence of FIFO workers are increasingly important.
