Psychological distress in remote mining and construction workers in Australia

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress in a sample of remote mining and construction workers in Australia. Design, setting: A cross‐sectional, anonymous Wellbeing and Lifestyle Survey at ten mining sites in South Australia and Western Australia, administered at meetings held during 2013–2015. Participants: 1124 employees at remote construction, and open cut and underground mining sites completed the survey. Main outcome measures: General psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K10) and self‐reported overall mental health status; work, lifestyle and family factors correlated with level of psychological distress. Results: The final sample comprised 1124 workers; 93.5% were men, 63% were aged 25–44 years. 311 respondents (28%) had K10 scores indicating high/very high psychological distress, compared with 10.8% for Australia overall. The most frequently reported stressors were missing special events (86%), relationship problems with partners (68%), financial stress (62%), shift rosters (62%), and social isolation (60%). High psychological distress was significantly more likely in workers aged 25–34 years (v ≥ 55 years: odds ratio [OR], 3.2; P = 0.001) and workers on a 2 weeks on/1 week off roster (v 4 weeks on/1 week off: OR, 2.4; P < 0.001). Workers who were very or extremely stressed by their assigned tasks or job (OR, 6.2; P = 0.004), their current relationship (OR, 8.2; P < 0.001), or their financial situation (OR, 6.0; P < 0.001) were significantly more likely to have high/very high K10 scores than those not stressed by these factors. Workers who reported stress related to stigmatisation of mental health problems were at the greatest risk of high/very high psychological distress (v not stressed: OR, 23.5; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Psychological distress is significantly more prevalent in the remote mining and construction workforce than in the overall Australian population. The factors that contribute to mental ill health in these workers need to be addressed, and the stigma associated with mental health problems reduced.

FIFO, FIFO, and off to work we woe

“…Firstly, not all these workers are men. More importantly, as reported by Bowers and her co‐authors in this issue of the MJA , 1 remote workers have a markedly higher level of psychological distress than the general Australian population.…”

Factors associated with patterns of psychological distress, alcohol use and social network among Australian mineworkers

“…Psychological distress within the Australian mining industry is well documented 10,11,13,29 . Previous research has shown that metalliferous mining workers experience significantly greater levels of psychological distress when compared to a gender‐ and age‐weighted sample of employed Australians 11 .…”

“…Many studies examining psychological distress within rural and remote mining communities have often attributed FIFO commuting as one of the main contributing factors to the abnormally high levels of mental disorders experienced by these workers 29,35,36 . In 2013, the House of Representatives in Australia tabled its findings on the use of FIFO workforce practices in regional Australia 18 .…”

Bullying in Fly-In-Fly-Out employees in the Australian resources sector: A cross-sectional study

“…Senior employees are more likely to be perpetrators of bullying, which may moderate the relationship between bullying and psychosocial distress among FIFO workers [51]. In contrast to most other workplaces, FIFO workers are more likely to work night shifts and high compression rosters, which have been associated with psychosocial distress and therefore are important to investigate for confounding effects [64,65]. Another potential moderating factor is alcohol consumption, which has been associated with higher levels of psychosocial distress in FIFO workers [66].…”