*2.3. Analysis*

All audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. The transcripts of the interviews were anonymized and analyzed in a deductive-inductive process according to Mayring's qualitative content analysis [19] by means of the software MAXQDA Analytics Pro, version 12 (VERBI Software GmbH, Berlin, Germany) [20]. An iterative process was applied in which the authors identified and refined codes, categories, and sub-categories. The coding was mutually checked for accuracy and was thoroughly discussed until consensus regarding the final coding system was reached. The final coding system was summarized in a separate document in which the material was further reduced and compacted. During the course of analysis, reflexivity and transparency regarding the potential influence of the researchers' objectives and preconceptions on the results and interpretations were encouraged. Transcripts and results were not returned to the interviewees. All quotes that were used for publication purposes were translated into English.

### **3. Results**

#### *3.1. Sample Characteristics*

As illustrated in Tables 2 and 3, seven women were aged between 31 and 40 years old; 10 women were married; seven women reported to work full-time, two worked part-time, and five were currently on maternity or parental leave; and eight women were mothers of children living in the household at the time of the study. The partners of 10 women had worked offshore from the beginning of their partnership. Furthermore, 12 offshore partners were currently working in a regular 14/14 work

schedule, and two partners were working in a different schedule at the time of the interview but did have experience with the 14/14 schedule. Additionally, seven partners had at least three years of offshore work experience.

### *3.2. Single Life without the O*ff*shore Partner*

#### 3.2.1. Advantages

As a major advantage of living the single life, many women found themselves to be more independent and self-reliant in their scheduling of activities and appointments. This was also reported regarding duties and routines within the household and parenting:

"*Very simple things, like, for example, when to make purchases, what to buy, when to clean certain things (* ... *).*" *(Interviewee #8)*


**Table 2.** Participant characteristics.


\* in years \*\* in turns with o

ffice weeks for specific trainings.

**3.**Participant characteristics (in detail).

**Table**

#### *Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health* **2019**, *16*, 241

A further advantage of the time spent alone was that the women pursued their own interests to a greater extent and were able to become engaged in several leisure activities:

"*Advantages, perhaps, that one deals with being alone and tries to find strategies to better cope with it. You do not rely on the fact that there is always someone there, but you put more thoughts in your own leisure activities.*" *(Interviewee #4)*

Meeting friends and family, doing sports, and following diverse hobbies were stressed by the women as important leisure activities in this phase.

### 3.2.2. Disadvantages

An important disadvantage of living the single life was reported to consist of the management and organization of daily life without the partner's general support. Spare time was described to be affected by the partner's absence in such way that the women perceived being forced to spend big parts of their social life alone:

"*A disadvantage is, of course, that you can only maintain your social contacts alone. If there are invitations or birthday parties, or if you just want to spend a nice evening with friends, this doesn't work.*" *(Interviewee #13)*

During their time alone, there were moments in which the women especially missed their partners. These often concerned moments that both partners usually shared, in particular regarding time during the evenings or weekends. Difficult situations such as sickness, problems at work, or issues with childcare were also mentioned. Moreover, the partner's being missing on special occasions, e.g., weddings or special moments in the children's development, was emphasized. Some interviewees indicated emotional changes, e.g., feeling lonely or more tense than usual:

"*I realize that I'm not feeling well when he's not there. Sometimes I do not sleep for nights because I cannot stand it.*" *(Interviewee #5)*

Another disadvantage consisted of perceived insecurities related to child care and parenting. Some interviewees described that they considered themselves as single mothers when their partners were offshore:

"*Well, more or less, I am a single parent for two weeks.*" *(Interviewee #9)*

The perceived unpredictability, e.g., regarding the exact time of the partner's arrival back home, was also seen as disadvantageous. Moreover, the awareness of constraints in reachability when the partner was offshore—especially in cases of emergency—was highlighted as burdening.

Many women spoke about changes in their work routines when their partners were away. They described often working overtime during this phase in order to be able to work less or leave on time when the partner was at home:

"*Of course, when my husband is not there, I work more. When he's at home, I scale that back a bit, so that we have more time for each other.*" *(Interviewee #9)*

Especially women with children found themselves to be less flexible and more constrained in their work times when they were alone, e.g., due to their children's schedules. Some mothers also described that their children's ill-health seemed to be connected to the absence of their father:

"*It also happens that the children get sick if he is not there for a long time.*" *(Interviewee #6)*

#### 3.2.3. Communication and Contact Styles

Staying in contact with the partner during his offshore assignments was reported to be crucial for the women. Most of them described being able to contact their partners on a daily basis. The scheduling of contact was stated to depend on the shifts and workloads of the partner:

"*During his shift, I can write him and if he reads it in between, he can also answer me. But we rather talk on the phone during his free shifts.*" *(Interviewee #12)*

Certain difficulties and restrictions to make contact were also described by some women; however, contact that could be initiated by both partners was reported to be the rule. The usage of several media (phone, messenger services, video telephony) was mentioned by the majority of the women. In particular, improved communication technologies were stated to enable more intensive contact and direct exchange. All in all, the majority of the women stated being satisfied with both the frequency and regularity of contact. Reasons for dissatisfaction were related to the time of contact and the general notion that technology-mediated contacts were not comparable to personal contacts.

#### *3.3. Life as a Couple*

#### 3.3.1. Advantages

Advantages of the 14/14 work schedule were often attributed to the time spent together as a couple during the partners' free turn. This time was stated to provide the couple with much time for joint activities and family life. The family life was perceived as being even more intensive due to the previous phase of separation, providing the couple with an opportunity to miss and look forward to seeing each other again. This was indicated to contribute to the liveliness of the relationship:
