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Oil Wives and Intermittent Husbands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. K. W. Morrice ,
R. C. Taylor ,
D. Clark  and
Kathryn McCann
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
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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
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 147 , Issue 5 , November 1985 , pp. 479 - 483
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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