About Some Social Characteristics of Chronic Stress of Shift Workers in the Arctic Conditions

Abstract

The expeditionary-shift method of organizing labor involves an increase in the intensity of labor during the shift, a longer work shift, a decrease in inter-shift rest in the absence of days off and minimal social and domestic security. The article is devoted to the study of the parameters of stress at work and in the family among men aged 25-54, employed in expeditionary-shift work in the Arctic territories of the Tyumen region. A sociological study was conducted on an organized population of men aged 25-54, employed in expeditionary-shift work for more than five years at one of the industrial enterprises of the Tyumen region. The comparison group consisted of an organized population of men in the same age range, working permanently in the city of Tyumen. Determination of stress at work and stress in the family was carried out according to the WHO standard questionnaire MONICA-psychosocial (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease - Optional Psychosocial Sybstudy). Among the men employed in the expeditionary-shift form of work, most often over the previous period of twelve months, a change in specialty was established, an increase in the load and responsibility at the workplace, a more negative attitude towards work, an increase in conflicts with subordinates, but also the possibility of rest after working day while reducing "other" changes at work. According to the parameters of stress in the family, among men employed in expeditionary-shift work, over the previous period of twelve months, a change in marital status, an increase in conflicts in the family, but also opportunities for a relaxing home rest were most often determined. Thus, the obtained results of a sociological study, which determined a significantly higher prevalence of some factors of chronic social stress after five years of work in the Arctic territories of the Tyumen region, should become a scientific basis for the formation of a socially oriented preventive program to reduce the risks of developing CVD among workers in the oil and gas production complex employed in expeditionary - shift form of work.