Testing the associations between different aspects of seafarers’ employment contract and on-board internet access and their job and life satisfaction and health

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test for associations between different aspects of contract and on-board internet access and seafarers' satisfaction and health. Altogether 298 Croatian seafarers, all officers, employed on cargo ships, with a minimum work experience of two years with their current shipping company, participated in an online survey. The questionnaire included sociodemographic items, questions relating to their employment contract and internet access, and measures of job satisfaction, life satisfaction, mental health, and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms. Their job-and lifesatisfaction levels were higher for shorter duration on board, favourable ratio of work to non-work days, and compliance with the employment contract regarding the changes to work and non-work days. Mental health differed likewise but only in relation to two aspects of the contract: on-board duration and compliance with the contract. The level of gastrointestinal symptoms was lower in cases of shorter on-board duration and compliance with the contract, and in seafarers who have free, unlimited internet access on board. Lower level of cardiovascular symptoms was found in seafarers with free, unlimited internet access on board. Our findings suggest that in promoting satisfaction and health in seafaring, attention should be given to reducing on-board duration, compliance with the contract, and internet accessibility on board. KEY WORDS: compliance with contract; gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms; isolated working environment; mental health; on-board duration; ratio of work to non-work daysSeafarers face many stressors, risks and challenges (1, 2) which may have impact on their physical and mental health. However, studies relating to health, morbidity, and mortality in seafarers [e.g. gastrointestinal disease mortality (3); cardiovascular disease mortality (4)] are often confounded by the "healthy worker effect", which is explained by self-selection and adaptation: seafarers who cannot adapt to work on board, as well as those who suffer from the effects of occupational stressors, leave the occupation. Still, Oldenburg et al. (5) show that, even if this effect is considered, it appears that cardiac risk factors occur slightly more frequently in seafarers than in the general population. Furthermore, data on suicides in seafarers (6) show that the mental health of seafarers in many cases continues to be very poor and often fatal.

Impact of Work–Family Conflict, Job Stress and Job Satisfaction on Seafarer Performance

“…Seafarers must sign long-term contracts with shipping companies, and specify how long they must stay on the ship (usually months or weeks), which means endured absence from home and society [4]. Among seafarers, the most frequently mentioned psychosocial stressors are long periods of separation from families and social isolation on shipboard [5,8,10]. Separation from family is the most prominent stressor for seafarers [4], and loneliness in the vessel was found to be associated with separation from family [5].…”

“…Many of the stressors faced by seafarers are long-term, and extended exposure to the marine surrounding causes higher stress [22,28]. Further, Slišković and Penezić [10] noted that the level of gastrointestinal symptoms of seafarers was higher under longer onboard duration and contract compliance. Since work stress increases health risk and reduces safety performance [24,29,30], long-term work stress can affect safe behavior and increase workplace injury risk [31,32].…”

Needs and possibilities for ship’s crews at high seas to communicate with their home

“…The strong need for communication stresses the importance of a good ICT infrastructure on board [16]. Moreover, the availability of onboard Internet access for private use mainly for Europeans/officers is a finding that clearly indicates a considerable social gradient between the cultural and rank groups aboard [22,23]. Furthermore, the Europeans navigating in the North Range were frequently able ashore (e.g., Seamen's clubs) and half aboard (e.g., on using the Internet).…”

Seafarers’ views on the impact of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on their living and working conditions: results from a pilot study

“…It should be considered to make internet connection mandatory under the MLC2006, at least where this is possible with the available technology. This has also been proposed by others and found beneficial for satisfaction and health [3,5,14,19]. Reliable and mandatory internet connection could also assist to overcome recruitment problems, as more young people will be attracted to the industry.…”

“…Worldwide, approximately 1.5 million seafarers work and live in unique, often hazardous conditions that can negatively affect physical and mental health. Not only are seafarers exposed to an environment with constant exposure to heat, noise and movement, poor diet and accommodation, shift work and the separation from family and friends, they also often have to face exploitation and financial pressure through non-compliance with contracts or non-payment of wages [1][2][3][4][5]. Inadequacy of available knowledge and difficulty to reach seafarers have hindered the implemen-tation of standards enhancing seafarers' safety and health on board for a long time.…”