Seafarers' perceptions of job demand: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Maritime Health
• Occupational Psychology
• Seafarer Well-being

Background:

• Psychological distress is a significant concern for seafarers.
• Understanding stressors on ships is crucial for improving maritime worker health.
• Previous research has not fully explored seafarer perceptions of job fatigue and decision latitude.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate seafarers' perceptions of psychological distress factors on board.
• To identify demographic and professional characteristics influencing job fatigue perception.
• To assess the relationship between job demand, decision latitude, and job strain in maritime workers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Italian shipping company seafarers.
• The Italian version of the Karasek questionnaire was used to assess job demand and decision latitude.
• Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to analyze seafarer characteristics and job strain.

Main Results:

• A high response rate of 80.1% was achieved.
• Mean perceived job demand was 32.8 points, and mean perceived decision latitude was 65.5 points.
• 37.2% of seafarers reported scarce decision latitude, indicating a significant issue.

Conclusions:

• Seafarer characteristics significantly influence their perception of job strain.
• The findings underscore the necessity of implementing stress prevention measures for maritime workers.
• Addressing scarce decision latitude is vital for mitigating psychological distress in seafarers.