Quest for life satisfaction in the sea of loneliness

The aim of this study was to investigate whether workplace loneliness is related to life satisfaction of seafarers on board deep-sea going cargo ships and to determine whether there exist differences in experienced workplace loneliness and life satisfaction between officers and ratings.

A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the variables in a sample of 521 seafarers sailing on foreign going vessels.

The findings showed that workplace loneliness was an important dimension for determining life satisfaction. As for the differences in the experienced loneliness, the findings show that there is a difference between officers and ratings. The findings support the theory of need for belongingness, which emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relations at work in understanding the well-being among workers.

This study is of practical significance to ship owners and ship managers, where they can use the findings to implement interventions for improving the individual's life satisfaction.