International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Occupational health

Wide spread of untraditional methods for organization of labour for extraction of natural resources in the Polar region put forward problems of social-psychological health of people working in shifts under the conditions of temporary isolation from their families.

The following research methods were used: sociological questionnaire, Hand Test, diagnosis of major needs satisfaction, study of social-psychological climate in the working team, factor questionnaire by R. Kettle and “Draw the Character”. Investigation of workers was done at the extraction place on the Island Kolguev in winter at (52+52/12+12). Qualitative analysis of the method “Draw the Character” showed that socially oriented and interpersonal relations between people working in expedition regimen of labour there is the dynamic supporting the influence of social-psychological isolation on social-psychological health of individuals. Dynamics of categories of social interrelation manifests in the following way. Communication (as a wish and readiness to communicate, need in communication) increases up to 2% towards the end of shifts on the whole (and up to in 5% of cases under the conditions of high level of isolation). Restraint (reserve, emotional restraint) more than in 4% of cases on the whole (and more than in 8% of cases under the conditions of high level of isolation). Cooperation (as the skill to work in an organized team, discipline) decreases 2% towards the end of shifts under the conditions of light and moderate isolation and more than 22,5% under the conditions of absolute isolation. Dependence (as need in support from others, dependence on the opinions of others) on the whole increases up to 7% from the beginning till the end of shifts. At the same time under the conditions of moderate isolation this need is 24% higher than under the conditions of absolute isolation that can be explained by a large number of people around, e.g. wider social connections.

Analysis of the data obtained during the investigation of social-psychological microclimate of the studied groups of people allows stating that in the beginning of shifts people view their coworkers more positively than in the end of shifts from the point of view of all three components: emotional, cognitive, behavioural.

Thus, under the conditions of moderate isolation the need in support from other people takes place in more than 21% cases as compared to the beginning of shifts. Independence from the opinions of others 4% increases, and under the conditions of absolute isolation up to 12%, that can be explained by adaptation-protecting psychological mechanisms.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)