A Work Environment Under Pressure: Psychosocial Job Demands and Resources Among Saturation Divers

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 10; p. 765197
• Main Authors: Romsbotn, Siri, Eftedal, Ingrid, Vaag, Jonas Rennemo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 28-04-2022
• Subjects: baropsychology; isolated and confined environment; mental health; psychosocial work environment; Public Health; saturation diving; psychosocial work environment; saturation diving; baropsychology; isolated and confined environment; mental health
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.765197

Saturation divers work and live under high physiological and social demands for weeks on end. Even though physiological research has contributed insights to the work conditions of saturation divers, research on the qualities of the divers' psychosocial work environment is lacking. This study aimed to explore which job demands and resources are viewed as characteristic among saturation divers working within an isolated and confined environment. Based on data from 6 in-depth semi-structured interviews, template analysis was applied to map unique characteristics. By using the theoretical framework of the job demands-resources model, we found that the work environment in saturation diving was characterized by shifting demands and big contrasts, requiring adaptability in each individual diver. One major demand described by the informants was
, somewhat due to the changes in the oil and gas industry. Another important demand was the
when committing to work for extended periods in isolated environments. The
that characterizes the work environment is a challenge that must be managed.
, and
provide external motivation, while personal resources such as
, and
, may benefit the divers' mental health. This is also affected by the
-with features such as being
, having
and having
in one another.