One for all: Workplace social context and drinking among railway workers in Ukraine

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in countries of the former Soviet Union, but little is known about its social determinants. Recent research has suggested that workplace contexts may play a role. Using qualitative methods, we investigate the relationship between workplace social contexts and drinking in Ukraine. We conducted 24 individual semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions in Lviv and Kharkiv, Ukraine, with male railway employees aged 18+ years. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Men in our sample expressed strong feelings of interdependence and trust towards their co-workers which we defined as 'social solidarity'. Drinking with co-workers was often seen as obligatory and an integral part of co-worker social occasions. Engagement in sport or family obligations seemed to act as a deterrent to drinking among some workers. A strong sense of solidarity exists between railway co-workers in Ukraine, perhaps a remnant of the Soviet era when individuals relied on informal networks for support. Alcohol may be used as a means of expressing this solidarity. Our findings point to factors, namely engagement in sports and family, which may offer opportunities for interventions to reduce alcohol consumption among workers in Ukraine.

Social Factors Influencing Russian Male Alcohol Use over the Life Course: A Qualitative Study Investigating Age Based Social Norms, Masculinity, and Workplace Context

“…Consistent with other studies this study showed that the construction and performance of Russian masculine identity is entwined with heavy drinking [ 8 , 38 , 44 ] and that heavy drinking in all-male groups (especially with work colleagues and in young adulthood) was seen as routine, expected behaviour. All-male drinking occasions had a social function (particularly among young men) because they fostered male camaraderie and identity, and strong social and work bonds, similar to contemporary accounts of railway workers’ drinking in Ukraine [ 10 ], and to Scottish men’s accounts of drinking and friendship [ 65 ]. Increased social participation is likely to have various (potentially offsetting) influences on health behaviours [ 66 ], but in the context of Eastern Europe male sociability appears associated with higher levels of alcohol use [ 67 ] driven by the norms of masculine behaviour.…”

“…Previous qualitative studies have highlighted how Russian male heavy drinking is related to demonstrations of masculinity, and is more common in male-dominated environments such as blue-collar workplaces [ 8 , 10 , 11 ]. This is consistent with findings from quantitative surveys that hazardous drinking in Russia is more common among men with lower socio-economic status [ 12 – 16 ].…”

“…A study from the 2000s found that zapois often started with work colleagues, and that particular used alcohol instead of payment [ 8 ]. Despite changes to employment in the post-Soviet period, studies suggest that workplace drinking and the perception that it promotes social solidarity continue in many industrial sectors [ 10 , 11 ]. Focussing on the blue-collar workplace is particularly important given the concentration of hazardous drinking in those with lower socio-economic position [ 14 ].…”

Differential effects of employment grade on the association between long working hours and problem drinking

“…Contextual factors embedded in work environments may contribute to the inconsistency across the reviewed studies, because broad employment categories were often used or only selected occupations were included. Alcohol drinking aggregates in certain occupations through multiple pathways, such as socializing, the share of alcohol availability, and the level of alcohol management . Furthermore, criticism has been that the overpresentation of socioeconomically‐privileged workers in the long working hour group may cause bias, because long working hours may not necessarily be a stress to these workers and subsequently lead to drinking.…”

The Importance of Community Consultations for Generating Evidence for Health Reform in Ukraine

“…22-25 While producing invaluable evidence, leading studies in the field have tended to be epidemiological and quantitative. There are, however, a few noteworthy exceptions.…”