Factors Influencing Psychoemotional Strain and Fatigue, and Relationship of These Factors With Health Complaints at Sea Among Lithuanian Seafarers

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the factors influencing psychoemotional strain and, fatigue among Lithuanian seafarers and relationship of these factors to health complaints at sea. Material and Methods. Two questionnaire surveys were carried out during mandatory health examination at the Maritime Medicine Center of Klaipėda Seamen’s Hospital in 2003 and 2007. From November to December 2003, 998 seafarers aged 20–64 years were interviewed (first study). The second study carried out during November–December 2007 involved 932 20–64-year-old seafarers. The questionnaire comprised questions on sociodemographic data, factors of maritime industry, experienced psychoemotional strain and fatigue, and subjective evaluation of health. Results. The first study showed that older seafarers aged from 35 to 54 years were more likely to experience psychoemotional strain (P<0.001). Long working hours (9–10 hours and 11–12 hours) in harmful conditions and increased eyestrain were associated with psychoemotional strain among seafarers in the first study as well (P<0.001). Higher education level and detrimental factors to health (vibration and noise) were significant risk factors for the occurrence of psychoemotional strain among seafarers in the second study (P<0.05). The relationship between many risk factors related to seafarers’ work, demographic data, and subjectively evaluated psychoemotional strain and fatigue appear to be accumulative in character. Health complains at sea (insomnia, depression, waist and spinal pain) were related to psychoemotional strain, but sleep disorders were associated with fatigue. Conclusions. Seafarers employed on a certain ship, under particular conditions, and being exposed to risk factors or their combination may experience health disorders related to increased fatigue and psychoemotional strain.

A review of fatigue in fishermen: a complicated and underprioritised area of research

“…One thing that can be confirmed from the reviewed studies is that they support the general agreement of other researchers in the field, that long working hours increase the risk of fatigue, accident and ill health [13]. However, fatigue is a complex problem, and that factors causing fatigue are not equal in "weight" and that there is a positive association between number of risk factors and increased fatigue [23,26]. Fatigue is also the strongest single risk factor that was positively associated with decreased cognitive performance and health outcomes, accounting for 10-14% of the variance.…”

“…The Sąlyga and Kušleikaitė (2011) [23] study included fishermen and seafarers in general. It looked at factors that influenced psychoemotional strain and fatigue, and the relationship of these factors with health complaints at sea among Lithuanian seafarers.…”

The Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) for assessing stress of seafarers on board merchant ships

“…Both aspects may impact their capacity to cope with work and may lead to psychological distress. This issue is relevant as mental health disturbances have been reported frequently in seafarers, a category with higher risk of severe consequences compared to other activities [25]. Despite the recognised relevance of stress as a cause of diseases and accidents in maritime navigation, maritime field studies were focused primarily on fatigue and watch systems as univariate parameters [26], and the majority of attention was centered on physical rather than on mental stress.…”

“…The association between psychological distress and chronic fatigue, sleep disorders and energy loss is established as well [25]. The relationship between the above aspects is bidirectional, as the symptoms may be both the source and the consequence of psychological distress [25,28]. Moreover, an increasing number of studies highlight that modern shipping industry and the globalisation requests have introduced relevant changes in this profession, leading to a global burden apparently increasing year after year [29].…”

“…The relevance of some psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, insomnia, perception of being in poor health) in seafarers is widely accepted. The association between psychological distress and chronic fatigue, sleep disorders and energy loss is established as well [25]. The relationship between the above aspects is bidirectional, as the symptoms may be both the source and the consequence of psychological distress [25,28].…”