Foreword to the Special Issue on “Seafarer’s Mental Health and Well-Being”

Abstract

This special collection encompasses 10 articles that delve into the pressing aspects of seafarers’ well-being, mental health, and the workplace. The articles are categorized into 2 broad topics.

The first topic, comprising 6 articles, scrutinizes the contributory factors to seafarers’ psychological well-being on board, covering sleep problems, food provisions, sexual abstinence, work-life balance, and psychosocial and work environment factors associated with seafaring. Four of these papers also focus on job satisfaction, work effectiveness, and retention in relation to seafarers’ psychological well-being. The second topic includes 4 articles on seafarers’ mental health assessment and promotion. These articles examine measurement tools for mental health, well-being, and resilience, as well as formal training and technology, including mobile apps, in seafarers’ health promotion and education. The insights gleaned from this special collection have the potential to significantly influence the practices of researchers, policymakers, and shipping companies. By shedding light on the need to enhance seafarers’ employment characteristics and address the health, safety, and well-being aspects of their work and life, this research can guide these stakeholders to better support seafarers in their crucial role as “key workers.”

Seafarers, the backbone of global trade, play an indispensable role in maintaining the worldwide economy and ensuring a sustainable future. However, their unique occupational challenges, including significant stress factors and health risks, demand immediate attention, thorough investigation, appropriate management, and intervention.

Undoubtedly, working and living conditions on board ships significantly influence seafarers’ mental health and well-being, thereby impacting the occupational health and safety of ships. This special collection explores (1) the organizational and work environment factors influencing seafarers’ psychological well-being and (2) mental health assessment and promotion tools. The proposed interventions and tools aim to improve well-being, fostering a more positive and productive work environment for seafarers.

The articles in this special collection are classified into 2 broad topics. The first topic searches into several issues impacting seafarers’ psychological well-being, such as sleep, food provisions, sexual abstinence, work-life balance, work environment, working conditions, and their relationship with job satisfaction, happiness, work effectiveness, and retention.

Galić et al applied a mixed-method approach to investigate Croatian seafarers’ challenges in maintaining sleep quality at sea. The study tested the mediating role of good sleep between job satisfaction, mental health, and somatic symptoms. The authors confirmed the long-standing issue of seafarers’ poor sleep quality and increased workload. The study found that job satisfaction is crucial to seafarers’ mental health and well-being. When seafarers are satisfied with their job, they are more likely to have better sleep quality and fewer somatic symptoms. This underscores the importance of a positive working environment in supporting seafarers’ mental and physical well-being.

Baum-Talmor and Şahin’s qualitative study investigated the impact of cost minimization on food provisions and insecure employment. The research applied shipboard observations and seafarers’ interviews to reveal under-resources conditions and the need for improved food quality, adequate training of cooking personnel, and cultural suitability. The study highlights better regulations’ crucial role in promoting seafarers’ physical and mental health.

Dong et al’s ground-breaking study explored the impact of work-induced sexual abstinence on the psychological health of Chinese male seafarers, contributing to the sparse literature on seafarers’ sexual health. Based on the survey of 617 respondents, this study highlights homesickness, suspicion and anxiety as the three distinct psychological issues most frequently induced by sexual abstinence in seafarers. The study also revealed the positive effect of job satisfaction, living conditions on board, friendliness of co-workers, and welfare facilities on the tolerance level of sexual abstinence. The findings of the study might be helpful to the management of the companies to protect seafarers’ health and enhance operational safety.

The study by Svetina et al provides a comprehensive understanding of seafarers’ mental health by identifying key stressors and their impact on career intentions. The study, which involved seafarers from 12 countries, revealed 3 main stressors: environmental factors such as vibration on board the ship; social problems like homesickness, bullying, and loneliness; and health issues including physical injuries, viruses, and illnesses. The critical role of social stressors, mainly isolation and workplace culture, was determinant in seafarers’ motivation and turnover. It emphasizes the need for targeted strategies to improve seafarers’ mental well-being, aiding retention in the maritime industry.

Senbursa and Dunder investigated the impact of work-life balance on the work effectiveness of seafarers, with the mediating effects of psychological well-being, organizational happiness, and trust. The research used structural equation modeling to validate hypotheses using a dataset of 420 seafarers from various Turkish and international vessels. The findings indicated that psychological well-being and organizational happiness mediate the relationship between work-life balance and work effectiveness, while trust partially mediates. These results suggest the importance of targeted strategies to improve seafarers’ mental health and work-life balance, enhancing their overall work effectiveness.

Hayes-Mejia and Stafström explored the relationship between work experiences, self-reported well-being, and happiness among seafarers. Analyzing data from an unprecedented sample of 13 008 international seafarers, the research revealed that work environment factors, such as job satisfaction, expectations, ideal workplace, skills and training, and challenges, except for workload, were significantly associated with high levels of well-being and happiness. The findings underscored the significance of the work environment onboard for seafarers’ mental health. The authors suggest that enhancing these work-related factors could improve crew retention and safety at sea, advocating for a focus on well-being and happiness in managing maritime workforces.

The second group of articles addresses assessing and measuring mental health and resilience among seafarers and proposes mental health promotion tools and programs.

Based on a systematic review of assessment methods for seafarers’ mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 crisis, Carrera et al underscored the need for standardized and validated tools tailored to seafarers’ unique circumstances. This study analyzed 27 original investigations evaluating various mental health assessment methods used in seafaring. It emphasized the importance of using validated tools to ensure accurate and comparable results. Janssen et al also conducted a systematic review to investigate resilience as a crucial resource to promote mental health among seafarers by focusing on the measurement methods and conceptual variations in existing literature for the last 20 years (from 2003 to 2023). The study found a research gap, particularly in civilian maritime sectors, and underscored the multidimensional aspects of seafarers’ resilience, like stressors and sleep issues. This research highlighted the need for standardized resilience measurement methods to understand better and enhance seafarers’ well-being and mental health, contributing to more effective interventions and support systems.

Two final articles focused on using information and communication technology (ICT) to improve mental health services and promote health programs for seafarers. Abila et al applied mixed methods, which included 26 interviews and a survey of 817 seafarers, to examine how ICT and formal education might empower seafarers in health promotion. The authors found the low priority that seafarers give to their mental health and the usefulness they perceive in mental health interventions when these are having direct effects on their families. The authors emphasize the importance of seafarers’ active involvement in mental health interventions through innovative technologies to develop a healthier, more resilient maritime workforce. In assessing the feasibility of health promotion through mobile apps among seafarers, the study by Arslan et al investigated the technical competencies of seafarers regarding mobile technology for potential health app-based interventions. The survey of 976 seafarers demonstrated the high level of IT proficiency of seafarers compared to land-based samples. This research shed light on the potential of mobile apps for tailored health interventions to promote well-being in the maritime environment.

Seafarers’ mental health, a crucial determinant of their well-being and safety at sea, is often adversely affected by poor and hazardous work environments. These conditions, along with precarious working conditions, can potentially impact work effectiveness, satisfaction, and career intentions. The COVID-19 crisis has heightened the understanding that work and mental health are deeply intertwined in occupational settings. The responsibility for seafarers’ mental health and well-being is not just an individual one but a shared responsibility of the entire industry. A collaborative, holistic approach is necessary to create a mentally healthy workplace for seafarers. Governments can play a role by implementing and enforcing regulations that ensure safe and healthy working conditions. Organizations can provide support through employee assistance programs and mental health initiatives, including formal education. Seafarers’ families and close communities can offer emotional support and understanding. Moreover, given the unique challenges of the seafaring work environment, it is crucial to develop authoritative and standardized methods for seafarers’ mental health assessment and promotion, benefiting from recent ICT developments.

Findings from this particular issue can inform managers and policymakers on best practices and policies that can enhance organizational performance and ensure seafarers’ health and safety. This special collection is a compilation of recent findings and a call to action, urging stakeholders to address the preventable mental health burden attributed to modifiable working conditions in the maritime context.