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Oil Wives and Intermittent Husbands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. K. W. Morrice
Affiliation:
Grampian Health Board, Aberdeen
R. C. Taylor*
Affiliation:
MRC Medical Sociology Unit, 6 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow
D. Clark
Affiliation:
MRC Medical Sociology Unit, Westburn Road, Aberdeen. Present appointment: Scottish Marriage Guidance Council, Edinburgh
Kathryn McCann
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Sociology, University of Aberdeen
*
Correspondence

Abstract

An investigation was conducted in the Aberdeen area on wives of oil men working either off-shore or on-shore. No differences were found in measures of general health; but ‘off-shore wives' were shown to experience mood and behavioural changes, linked to the pattern of swiftly recurring partings and reunions. While a majority of such wives appeared to tolerate or even thrive on their style of life, 10% had reactions sufficiently pronounced to deserve the label of Intermittent Husband Syndrome or ‘caseness'. Many others would have benefited from more effective preventive and support services.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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