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Anxiety and depression levels in expectant Fly In, Fly out (FIFO) fathers as the WA
mining boom ends.
Siva Prema Siva(1,2), David A. Coall (3,4), Ingrid B. Petersen (5), Julie A. Quinlivan (2,6)
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King Edward's Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia.2.Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Joondalup
Health Campus, Joondalup, Western Australia.3. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia.4. School of Psychiatry
and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.5. Iona Presentation College, Mosman Park, Western Australia.6. Institute for
Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia
Introduction
A WA Parliamentary inquiry was conducted following
suicides in fly in, fly out (FIFO) workers. It found that there
was limited information available about the mental health
of FIFO fathers. The aim of this study was to explore rates
of anxiety and depression in expectant FIFO fathers across
the years of 2013 to 2015, as the WA mining boom was
ending.
Methods
A prospective study of FIFO fathers enrolled in the
Australian Father’s Study was conducted. Men were asked
to complete Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS),
and Satisfaction with Life Scales (SWLS) in the third
trimester of their partner’s pregnancy. Demographic and
qualitative data were also collected.
Results
129 FIFO men were recruited over the three year period
(2013 N=40, 2014 N=43, 2015 N=46). Mean age of FIFO
fathers significantly increased across the period (28 to 31
years, p<0.01). The proportion of FIFO fathers with a
university qualification rose (8/40 to 19/46). Mean HADS
(Anxiety) and HADS (Depression) subscale scores increased
(Anxiety 3.2 to 5.9, Depression 2.1 to 4.8, both p<0.01).
There was a corresponding decline in SWLS (28.7 to 26.4,
p<0.01). This decline in paternal mental health inversely
correlated to world iron ore prices (p<0.001).
Conclusion
The age and level of education of expectant FIFO fathers
has risen in association with the demise of the WA mining
boom. Anxiety and depression symptomatology have risen
and quality of life scores fallen. Declining FIFO paternal
mental health and wellbeing may impact upon expectant
women and the family unit.
0
50
100
150
200
0
5
10
15
20
2013
2014
2015
Iron ore price
(USD/metric tonne)
HADST score
Year
HADST
IRON ORE
2013
2014
2015
Total
Mean Age (years)
STDev
P value
28.2
6.2
31.9
3.9
32.1
4.7
30.8
5.2
Country of Birth
Australia
Overseas
29 (72.5%)
11 (27.5%)
17 (39.5%)
26 (60.5%)
18 (39.1%)
28 (60.9%)
64 (49.6%)
65 (50.4%)
Relationship status
Living with partner
Not living with
partner
40
0
38
5
42
4
120
9
Level of education
Less than 12 years
12 years
TAFE/ University
13
19
8
15
14
14
13
14
19
41
47
41
ASTI
Yes
No
6
34
0
43
0
46
6
123
Smoker
Yes
No
13
27
10
33
10
36
33
96
Feeling about
becoming a father
Score
STDev
7.9
1.7
8.4
1.8
7.8
1.9
8.03
1.8
HADS Total
STDev
5.6
4.7
6.6
5.9
10.6
5.8
7.7
5.9
HADS Anxiety
STDev
3.2
2.9
4.4
3.5
5.9
3.4
4.6
3.5
HADS Depression
STDev
2.4
2.9
2.3
2.8
4.8
3.7
3.2
3.4
SWLQ Score
STDev
28.7
1.7
28.0
3.0
26.4
3.9
27.6
3.2
0
50
100
150
200
0
10
20
30
40
2013
2014
2015
Iron ore price
(USD/metric tonne)
SWLQ score
Year
SWLQ
IRON ORE
Table 1: Key demographics and main
study outcomes
ANZCTR: The primary trial was registered with ANZCTR
Number: 12613001273774.
WEBSITE: The trial website
is http://www.australianfathersstudy.com
Contact : Dr Siva via email at
siva.siva@health.wa.gov.au if you have anything that
you wish to discuss.