open access
Is physical and psychological work stress associated with fatigue in Danish ferry ship employees?
, 1, 2
Affiliations- Centre of Maritime Health and Society, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (SDU Esbjerg), Niels Bohrs Vej 9, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (SDU Esbjerg), Niels Bohrs Vej 9, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark
open access
Abstract
Background: Fatigue is a recognised risk factor for safety in seafaring. While always dangerous, fatigue in ferry shipping is especially hazardous as it may jeopardise passengers’ safety. To counteract fatigue, knowledge on its determinants is important. Little, however, is known on the influence from physical and psychosocial work environment factors within ferry shipping. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between work stress in terms of physical stressors, perceived job demands and job control and different dimensions of fatigue among ferry ship employees and to test whether a potential effect of work stress was mediated by sleep satisfaction.
Materials and methods: The design was cross-sectional. 193 respondents answered to a self-administered questionnaire including standardised scales, i.e. the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire for job demands and control. The association of risk factors with fatigue was determined using hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses.
Results: Physical work stressors were positively associated with only one of five fatigue subscales: lack of energy. Higher levels of demands were related to more lack of energy, lack of motivation, physical exertion and sleepiness, while more control was related to lesser lack of energy, lack of motivation and sleepiness. No demand-control interaction was found. Effects of demand and control were partly mediated by sleep satisfaction.
Conclusions: Although limited by its cross-sectional design this study provides support for the independent relevance of demands and control for employee fatigue in ferry shipping and for a mediating role of sleep satisfaction.
Abstract
Background: Fatigue is a recognised risk factor for safety in seafaring. While always dangerous, fatigue in ferry shipping is especially hazardous as it may jeopardise passengers’ safety. To counteract fatigue, knowledge on its determinants is important. Little, however, is known on the influence from physical and psychosocial work environment factors within ferry shipping. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between work stress in terms of physical stressors, perceived job demands and job control and different dimensions of fatigue among ferry ship employees and to test whether a potential effect of work stress was mediated by sleep satisfaction.
Materials and methods: The design was cross-sectional. 193 respondents answered to a self-administered questionnaire including standardised scales, i.e. the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire for job demands and control. The association of risk factors with fatigue was determined using hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses.
Results: Physical work stressors were positively associated with only one of five fatigue subscales: lack of energy. Higher levels of demands were related to more lack of energy, lack of motivation, physical exertion and sleepiness, while more control was related to lesser lack of energy, lack of motivation and sleepiness. No demand-control interaction was found. Effects of demand and control were partly mediated by sleep satisfaction.
Conclusions: Although limited by its cross-sectional design this study provides support for the independent relevance of demands and control for employee fatigue in ferry shipping and for a mediating role of sleep satisfaction.
Keywords
fatigue, demand-control model, job demands, job control, psychosocial work environment, sleep satisfaction, seafaring, seafarers
About this articleTitle
Is physical and psychological work stress associated with fatigue in Danish ferry ship employees?
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
46-55
Published online
2020-03-21
Page views
1799
Article views/downloads
1261
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
IMH 2020;71(1):46-55.
Keywords
fatigue
demand-control model
job demands
job control
psychosocial work environment
sleep satisfaction
seafaring
seafarers
Authors
Solveig Boeggild Dohrmann
Kimmo Herttua
Anja Leppin
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