TY - JOUR
T1 - Wellbeing and Happiness and Their Association With Working Conditions at Sea
T2 - A Cross-sectional Study Among the Global Workforce of Seafarers
AU - Hayes-Mejia, Rebecca
AU - Stafström, Martin
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate whether seafarers' self-reported work experiences were associated with wellbeing and happiness while onboard. The study also examined which indicators of the work experiences had an effect in what direction. We analyzed the survey responses from 13 008 seafarers onboard, from 154 different nationalities, serving in 44 different international shipping companies. The outcome measures were wellbeing and happiness, and the exposure variables were work environment factors: satisfaction, expectations, ideal, skills and training, challenges, and workload. General psychosocial work environment onboard and socioeconomic independent variables were also included. We conducted different logistic regression analyses, and presented the results as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study found that most seafarers reported high levels of wellbeing and happiness and that these were significantly associated to the work environment factors, except for workload. A stratified analysis, showed that workload modified the effect of the other work environment factors. The study found that there were independently significant associations between work related factors and wellbeing and happiness among seafarers at sea. The findings suggest that a greater emphasis on these outcomes could have a positive impact both on crew retention and safety at sea.
AB - The aim of this study was to investigate whether seafarers' self-reported work experiences were associated with wellbeing and happiness while onboard. The study also examined which indicators of the work experiences had an effect in what direction. We analyzed the survey responses from 13 008 seafarers onboard, from 154 different nationalities, serving in 44 different international shipping companies. The outcome measures were wellbeing and happiness, and the exposure variables were work environment factors: satisfaction, expectations, ideal, skills and training, challenges, and workload. General psychosocial work environment onboard and socioeconomic independent variables were also included. We conducted different logistic regression analyses, and presented the results as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study found that most seafarers reported high levels of wellbeing and happiness and that these were significantly associated to the work environment factors, except for workload. A stratified analysis, showed that workload modified the effect of the other work environment factors. The study found that there were independently significant associations between work related factors and wellbeing and happiness among seafarers at sea. The findings suggest that a greater emphasis on these outcomes could have a positive impact both on crew retention and safety at sea.
KW - Humans
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Happiness
KW - Male
KW - Workplace/psychology
KW - Female
KW - Adult
KW - Job Satisfaction
KW - Workload/psychology
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Ships
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
KW - Socioeconomic Factors
KW - Occupational Health
KW - Working Conditions
U2 - 10.1177/00469580241256349
DO - 10.1177/00469580241256349
M3 - Article
C2 - 38813986
SN - 0046-9580
VL - 61
JO - Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision and Financing
JF - Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision and Financing
M1 - 469580241256349
ER -