Burnout syndrome in seafarers in the merchant marine service

TY - JOUR

T1 - Burnout syndrome in seafarers in the merchant marine service

AU - Oldenburg, M

AU - Jensen, H-J

AU - Wegner, R

PY - 2013/5/1

Y1 - 2013/5/1

N2 - PURPOSE: As seafarers face a wide range of psychosocial stressors on board, they may be endangered to develop burnout syndrome. This study aims to investigate respective indicators.METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 251 seafarers were asked about demographic data and job-related stressors. Particularly, the subscale emotional exhaustion (EE) of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to assess the respective risks of job-related burnout and daytime sleepiness among seafarers. The statistical analysis was carried out using multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: Within the whole study group, the EE score was elevated in 10.8 %. A higher EE score was found in 10.7 % of officers, in 4.5 % of lower crew ranks and in 25.0 % of the galley staff (p = 0.05). Furthermore, long working days were associated with an elevated EE score [OR 3.83 (CI 1.46-10.03)]. Emotional exhaustion was associated with a subjective perception of enough sleep on board [OR 3.33 (CI 1.17-9.46)], lack of care taken by the shipboard superiors and/or the shipping company [OR 1.19 (CI 1.04-1.36)], with high responsibility for work organisation of those involved in leadership [OR 1.46 (CI 1.20-1.78)] and with social problems due to the long periods of separation from their families [OR 1.19 (CI 1.02-1.39)], taking into account relevant demographic parameters.CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the majority of on-shore occupations, the burnout risk in seafaring seems to be moderate. To reduce the EE among seafarers, it is recommended to extend the sleeping time, to avoid long working hours, to improve the superiors' communication and leadership skills, to diminish the superiors' stress load caused by organisational duties and to support low-price telecommunication possibilities at home.

AB - PURPOSE: As seafarers face a wide range of psychosocial stressors on board, they may be endangered to develop burnout syndrome. This study aims to investigate respective indicators.METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 251 seafarers were asked about demographic data and job-related stressors. Particularly, the subscale emotional exhaustion (EE) of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to assess the respective risks of job-related burnout and daytime sleepiness among seafarers. The statistical analysis was carried out using multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: Within the whole study group, the EE score was elevated in 10.8 %. A higher EE score was found in 10.7 % of officers, in 4.5 % of lower crew ranks and in 25.0 % of the galley staff (p = 0.05). Furthermore, long working days were associated with an elevated EE score [OR 3.83 (CI 1.46-10.03)]. Emotional exhaustion was associated with a subjective perception of enough sleep on board [OR 3.33 (CI 1.17-9.46)], lack of care taken by the shipboard superiors and/or the shipping company [OR 1.19 (CI 1.04-1.36)], with high responsibility for work organisation of those involved in leadership [OR 1.46 (CI 1.20-1.78)] and with social problems due to the long periods of separation from their families [OR 1.19 (CI 1.02-1.39)], taking into account relevant demographic parameters.CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the majority of on-shore occupations, the burnout risk in seafaring seems to be moderate. To reduce the EE among seafarers, it is recommended to extend the sleeping time, to avoid long working hours, to improve the superiors' communication and leadership skills, to diminish the superiors' stress load caused by organisational duties and to support low-price telecommunication possibilities at home.

KW - Adult

KW - Burnout, Professional

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Disorders of Excessive Somnolence

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Male

KW - Marital Status

KW - Mental Fatigue

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Personal Satisfaction

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Ships

KW - Sleep

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Time Factors

KW - Work Schedule Tolerance

U2 - 10.1007/s00420-012-0771-7

DO - 10.1007/s00420-012-0771-7

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 22526089

VL - 86

SP - 407

EP - 416

JO - INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA

JF - INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA

SN - 0340-0131

IS - 4

ER -