Injury, Illness, and Mental Health Risks in United States Domestic Mariners

Abstract

Objective: Describe health conditions and injury and illness rates in a population of United States mariners, an understudied workforce vital to economic security. Methods: In this survey study, mariner health data was collected and analyzed to provide injury and illness rates (including mental health conditions) and associated risk factors. Results: In this mariner population of highly tenured vessel masters and pilots, hypertension, obesity, sleep disorders, smoking, alcohol consumption, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were common. BMI ≥35 was associated with increased likelihood of work injury (OR 5.7; 95%CI 1.01, 32.59). Conclusions: The mariners were in poor overall health, raising public health and safety concerns in this population of essential transportation workers. Follow-up studies including a wider distribution of domestic mariners (deck hands, engineers) would further characterize occupational risks.

Mental health problems and their related factors among seafarers: a scoping review

“… 7 Lefkowitz et al (2019) [ 34 ] North America (United States of America) Secondary descriptive study Data from large international marine insurance from 2007–2015 278 international seafarers N/A Mental illness including social withdrawal, mood swings or other concerning change was found 3.9 per 100,000 person-years. 6 Lefkowitz et al (2020) [ 35 ] North America (United States of America) Cross-sectional study Self-administered questionnaire at piloting training center 233 domestic seafarers PHQ-9 Depressive symptom was 16%. Obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m 2 ), poor sleep quality, and anxiety were associated with depressive symptom.…”

“…The general characteristics of 24 studies are demonstrated in Table 2 . Sixteen studies were conducted in Europe [ 14 – 29 ], five in Asia [ 6 , 30 – 33 ] two in North America [ 34 , 35 ] and one in South America [ 36 ]. Twenty-two studies were quantitative [ 6 , 14 – 24 , 26 – 28 , 30 – 36 ] and two were qualitative [ 25 , 29 ].…”

“…Regarding study design, many applied cross-sectional designs. As to the data collection, five quantitative studies collected data using face to face questionnaires (two study locations were unidentified [ 19 , 36 ], one study used a piloting training center [ 35 ], and two studies were conducted at a health examination hospital [ 18 , 20 ]). Five studies distributed questionnaires using online surveys [ 16 , 17 , 24 , 31 , 33 ].…”

“…Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness and isolation were reported in five studies [ 15 , 19 , 30 , 35 , 36 ]. Three studies showed 14.5 to 49% of seafarers reported depressive symptoms [ 30 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness and isolation were reported in five studies [ 15 , 19 , 30 , 35 , 36 ]. Three studies showed 14.5 to 49% of seafarers reported depressive symptoms [ 30 , 35 , 36 ]. Furthermore, 34 and 46% of seafarers with type 2 diabetes also reported depressive symptoms and anxiety, respectively [ 19 ].…”