Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of seafarers: A comparison using matched samples

    89008.pdf (567.3Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Pauksztat, B.
    Andrei, Daniela
    Grech, M.R.
    Date
    2022
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Pauksztat, B. and Andrei, D.M. and Grech, M.R. 2022. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of seafarers: A comparison using matched samples. Safety Science. 146: ARTN 105542.
    Source Title
    Safety Science
    DOI
    10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105542
    ISSN
    0925-7535
    Faculty
    Faculty of Business and Law
    School
    Future of Work Institute
    Rights
    http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP130100215
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89184
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented to curb its transmission have altered workplaces and challenged occupational health and safety in unprecedented ways, with high levels of mental distress reported across several industries. In the maritime industry, occupational health and safety risks, including psychosocial risks, were a concern already before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, knowledge about the prevalence of mental health problems and the factors associated with them is still limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the effects of respondent and work-related characteristics on seafarers’ self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Data came from two cross-sectional convenience samples of seafarers on international commercial vessels, surveyed before (Npre-pandemic = 793) and during the pandemic (Npandemic = 504). Matching the two samples on respondent and work-related characteristics using propensity scores, we found that the pandemic contributed to significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety. Further analyses showed that seafarers with longer work periods, those who had been on board longer than expected, and those working on vessels registered with “Flags of Convenience” reported significantly higher levels of both depression and anxiety during the pandemic, but not prior to the pandemic. Taken together, these findings suggest that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a deterioration of working conditions and increased mental health risks for seafarers. Practical implications for safe-guarding occupational health and safety during this and future crises are discussed.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Experiences of receiving and providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A five-cohort cross-sectional comparison
      Bradfield, Zoe ; Wynter, K.; Hauck, Yvonne ; Vasilevski, V.; Kuliukas, Lesley ; Wilson, A.N.; Szabo, R.A.; Homer, C.S.E.; Sweet, L. (2021)
      Introduction The global COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way health care is delivered in many countries around the world. Evidence on the experience of those receiving or providing maternity care is important ...
    • Mining through pandemic crisis: a systematic review of the impacts of COVID-19 management strategies on mining industries in West Africa and Western Australia
      Ayaaba, Esther; Adusei-Asante, Kwadwo; Nunfam, Victor Fannam; Rumchev, Krassi ; Amponsah, Samuel Kofi (2024)
      The mining sector plays a crucial role in the economies of West Africa and Western Australia, contributing to GDP, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. However, the sector also faces environmental, social, and health ...
    • The importance of psychological contracts for safe work during pandemics
      Petery, Gigi ; Parker, Sharon ; Zoszak, Leah (2021)
      COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on how the effects of a pandemic can reverberate throughout a broad spectrum of work-related processes, as eloquently described in the focal article (Rudolph et al., 2020). However, a critical ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.