Characteristics of Self-Regulation in Shift Workers From Various Occupational Groups Working in the Far North

Introduction. The present investigation undertakes to identify characteristics of self-regulation in shift workers from various occupational groups working during the shift period in conditions of the Far North. It draws our attention to the importance of studying a professional's self-regulation in extreme working conditions. The study describes for the first time the parameters of conscious self-regulation in occupational groups of shift work in the Far North and examines the interrelationships between self-regulation parameters and functional states in shift workers. Methods. A field study was carried out during the winter expedition to an oil company at Varandey Island (latitude 68°49'28" N). To identify the parameters of conscious self-regulation, the employees were asked to respond to the Behavior Self-Regulation Style questionnaire by V. I. Morosanova. Respondents' functional states were measured using the Luscher Color Test, activation metrics, and the tremometric method throughout the entire 30-day shift. Results. The findings suggest that there are interrelationships between shift-work seniority and the following self-regulation parameters: ‘flexibility', ‘programming', and ‘assessing the results'. Optimal working capacity is more typical for the employees with average levels of ‘modeling' and ‘planning' parameters and low levels of ‘programming'. The employees from the ‘management activities' group have higher levels of ‘independence'. The employees from the ‘operator labor' and ‘management activities' groups have high levels of ‘flexibility'. Discussion. Shift workers from various occupational groups working in the Far North differ in interrelationships between the levels of regulatory processes and personality traits. The majority of the employees from all the groups are characterized by high scores on measures of the ‘modeling' regulatory process, which is important for maintaining an optimal functional state during the shift. A nonlinear relationship was found between self-regulation parameters and shift-work seniority in the Far North.