Mental health and different work shifts for oil industry workers

This research identified mental health profiles in a sample of 144 oil industry workers engaged in different work shifts. The following questionnaires were applied: General Health Questionnaire (reduced version consisting of 12 items), Self-Esteem Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale and the scale of value attributes in the Motivation Inventory and Meaning of Work. Empirical factors were used as indicators to measure five dimensions of mental health in accordance with Peter Warr´s ecological model. Four profiles of mental health were identified: 1) Balanced, 2) Anxious, 3) Oscillating; and 4) Satisfactory. When the variation in profiles was analyzed per work shift (cluster analysis), it was observed that the oil industry workers engaged in continuous, rotating shifts and on standby shifts tend to present the balanced and satisfactory profiles, while those working in the areas of administration and field administration tend to present anxious and oscillating profiles.

Statistical analysis; Subjectivity; Work hours; Mental health