The Mental Health Status of Offshore Oil Platform Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2022 Oct 28

PMID 36304563

Authors

Fereshteh Baygi

Nami Mohammadian Khonsari

Ehsan Seif

Hamid Asayesh

Mostafa Qorbani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies indicated that offshore workers have a high level of work-related stress on an everyday basis. This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of mental health conditions in offshore oil platform workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Workers of three oil and gas platforms were assessed in this cross-sectional study. Their mental status was evaluated by the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD-8) questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaires. Furthermore, we assessed satisfaction with life (SWL) with a single question. Finally, multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of demographic and work-related variables with mental health outcomes.

Results: Overall, 278 (Males:197, Females: 81) out of 315 invited workers with a mean age of 35.6 (SD: 7.2) years were included in this study using a random sampling method (participation rate: 88.2%). PTSD symptoms and Insomnia were observed in 9 (3.2%) and 138 (49.6%) of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were 72 (25.9%), 70 (24.6%), and 85 (30.5%), respectively. Based on multivariable (adjusted) logistic regression analysis, women had significantly higher odds of stress and anxiety than men; those with an academic education were significantly more dissatisfied with their lives than those without an academic education.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress among offshore oil platformers during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in women. Indicating that women and those with a higher education level in the oil platform work settings are more susceptible to stressors.

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