Rural and Remote Mental Health, Adelaide, SA
Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA.
Med J Aust. 2018 May 21;208(9):391-397. doi: 10.5694/mja17.00950. Epub 2018 May 14.
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.
1124 employees at remote construction, and open cut and underground mining sites completed the survey.
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.
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).
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.
评估澳大利亚偏远矿区和建筑工地工人样本中的心理困扰发生率及其相关因素。
设计、地点：2013-2015 年在南澳大利亚和西澳大利亚的十个矿区和建筑工地举行的会议期间，对十个矿区和建筑工地的远程建筑、露天开采和地下开采场所的 1124 名员工进行了横断面、匿名的幸福感和生活方式调查。
1124 名员工完成了调查。
一般心理困扰（Kessler 心理困扰量表，K10）和自我报告的整体心理健康状况；与心理困扰程度相关的工作、生活方式和家庭因素。
最终样本包括 1124 名工人；93.5%为男性，63%年龄在 25-44 岁之间。311 名受访者（28%）的 K10 评分表明存在高/极高的心理困扰，而澳大利亚的这一比例为 10.8%。报告频率最高的压力源是错过特殊活动（86%）、与伴侣的关系问题（68%）、经济压力（62%）、轮班时间表（62%）和社交孤立（60%）。在 25-34 岁的工人（v≥55 岁：比值比[OR]，3.2；P=0.001）和 2 周上班/1 周休假轮班制的工人（v4 周上班/1 周休假轮班制：OR，2.4；P<0.001）中，高心理困扰的可能性显著更高。对工作任务或工作感到非常或极度有压力的工人（OR，6.2；P=0.004）、当前关系（OR，8.2；P<0.001）或财务状况（OR，6.0；P<0.001）的工人，其 K10 评分高/极高的可能性显著高于无这些因素压力的工人。报告与心理健康问题污名化相关的压力的工人面临高/极高心理困扰的风险最大（v 无压力：OR，23.5；P<0.001）。
心理困扰在偏远矿区和建筑工地的工人中明显比在澳大利亚总人口中更为普遍。需要解决这些工人心理健康问题的相关因素，并减少与心理健康问题相关的污名化。
