Systematic Review

Shipping is considered a demanding environment that can significantly impact seafarers’ well-being and mental health. This
review aims to examine existing literature on the resilience of seafarers, with a focus on the measurement methods used.
Furthermore, this study intends to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research in the field of
seafarers’ resilience, examining the variations in defining and conceptualizing resilience across different studies and contexts.
The review identified 99 studies published between 2003 and 2023, with ten studies being included in the final analysis.
These studies employed various measurement methods and provided definitions of resilience. Five questionnaires were
identified, with the Dispositional Resilience Scale-15 (DRS-15) being the most commonly used. Two of the selected studies
had a longitudinal follow-up, while eight were cross-sectional. Four studies related to tankers, and an additional four studies
focused on naval vessels, while two studies did not specify the vessel type. The publications were distributed in the period
between 2003 and 2013 (two papers) and between 2013 and 2023 (eight papers). The identified themes encompassed
shipboard stressors (three papers), sleep problems (two papers), occupational groups or attitudes (two papers), experiences
in war (two papers), and intervention measures (one paper), highlighting the multidimensional nature of resilience within
the maritime field. This review suggests a research gap, as it reveals that the topic of resilience in seafaring has been sparsely
represented. Despite an increasing interest in recent years, research remains limited, particularly in the civilian maritime
sector. Therefore, this review highlights the importance of understanding and promoting resilience among seafarers.
While the variety of questionnaires used was limited, achieving consensus and standardization in resilience measurement is
essential for more comparable and consistent research findings. Recognizing resilience as a crucial resource can promote the
development of targeted interventions and support systems, enhancing seafarers’ well-being and mental health.