Mental health issues in Chinese offshore oil workers

Background Offshore oil platform work is regarded as a stressful occupation, and occupational stress has been shown to be an important risk factor for mental illness. Little, however, is known about the main and interactive effects of occupational stress and coping styles on the mental health of Chinese offshore oil platform workers. Aims To explore the association of mental health with occupational stress, coping styles and their interaction among Chinese offshore oil platform workers. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 Chinese offshore oil platform workers. They were sent a self-administered questionnaire exploring their socio-demographic characteristics, occupational stress, coping styles and mental health. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess the main and interactive effects of occupational stress and coping styles on mental health. Results After controlling for age, educational level, marital status and years of offshore working, poor mental health was significantly positively associated with occupational stress, 'internal behaviour' coping methods and the interaction between occupational stress and internal behaviour coping. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the mental health of Chinese offshore oil platform workers is associated with occupational stress, some coping styles and interactions of occupational stress and some coping styles.