Mental Currents at Sea: A Multidimensional Exploration of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Sleep, and Fatigue in...

This study investigates the interrelations between perceived stress, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and fatigue among active Turkish seafarers, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of sleep quality and fatigue. A total of 955 seafarers serving on various vessel types participated in the study. Demographic information, including ship type, job role, and workload, was collected. The Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) were administered, and analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 25 and PROCESS Macro v4.2. The results indicate that both sleep quality and fatigue significantly mediate the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms, as well as between perceived stress and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, mental health outcomes varied significantly across ship type, job role, and workload. The findings highlight the critical role of sleep and fatigue management in safeguarding seafarers' mental well-being and enhancing operational safety at sea. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on psychosocial risk factors in maritime settings and suggests that integrated fatigue risk management systems and evidence-based psychological support programs are essential to ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability within the shipping industry.