Marital status of men working in expeditionary shift mode in Arctic conditions, associations with health self-assessment

The mining industry is constantly developing increasingly remote areas of the Arctic, Subarctic and Siberia, and due to the geographical, geological, demographic and infrastructural features of these regions, there remains a great need for specialists with high mobility potential, primarily men of economically active age. Attitudes to health related to family status, and in particular, its self-assessment among “shift workers” with increasing length of service in expeditionary-shift work seem to be a reliable indicator for the formation of a comprehensive program for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Aim of the study was to determine the family status of men engaged in expeditionary rotational work, its associations with self-assessment of health in working conditions at the oil and gas production complex in the Arctic.
Material and methods. The object of the study was two “random” representative samples formed from male workers aged 25‒54 years engaged in expeditionary-shift work in the Arctic latitudes of the Tyumen region. The work experience on an expeditionary rotational basis in the Arctic was assessed according to three gradations: 3 years or less, 4–9 years, 10 years or more. Self-assessment of health was determined by analyzing the standard WHO MONICA-MOPSY questionnaire.
Results. Negative trends in the change in marital status among men engaged in expeditionary rotational work in the Arctic have been identified, both in the general organized population of persons aged 25–54, and in each of the three decades of life (25–34, 35–44, 45–54 years), regardless of length of service in expeditionary watch mode. The lowest self-assessment of health was found in the absence of a life partner, as well as in single men with more than three years of work experience.
Conclusions. The results of the study indicate the need to intensify preventive and social programs aimed at stimulating and strengthening the role of the family among men of economically active age, mainly after three years of work on expeditionary rotations in the Arctic zone of Russia.

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