Relationships between work environment factors and workers’ well-being in the maritime industry

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether physical and psychosocial work factors arerelated to the levels of job satisfaction and intentions to leave in the maritime industry, and to determinewhether there exist cross-cultural differences in work factors, job satisfaction and intentions to leave between European and Filipino crew members.

Material and methods: Using a cross-sectional survey design, the variables were assessed in a sampleof 541 seafarers from 2 large Norwegian shipping companies. Work factors included safety perceptions,leadership, job demands, harassment, and team cohesion.

Results: The findings show that physical and psychosocial work factors are important correlates of bothintentions to leave and job satisfaction, with safety perceptions, job demands, and team cohesion as thestrongest and most consistent factors. As for cross-cultural differences, the findings show that Europeanand Filipino respondents differ with regard to safety perceptions, laissez-faire leadership, authentic leadership,exposure to harassment, team cohesion, and intentions to leave. No differences were establishedwith regard to overall job satisfaction.

Conclusions: The findings support occupational stress models which emphasise the importance of situationalfactors in the understanding of well-being among workers. Shipping companies should thereforealways take these factors into consideration when developing and implementing interventions aimed atimproving employee well-being.