| Objectives:1. To understand the feature of international seamen’ psychological health characteristics through questionnaire Survey;2. To examine the environmental and other influencing factors related to psychological health of the crews through analysis and comparison of Chinese and foreign seamen’s psychological characteristics3. To investigate the impact of seamen’s work patterns on their physical and psychological health, to improve the working and living environment of the international seamen, early detection of their psychological health problems, and to provide timely and effective interventions to make a reasonable rationalization and scientific advices.MethodsA stratified sampling method was adopted in this cross section survey.600seamen who were working on large container ships were selected as respondents from eight major international sea routes that calling at Shanghai Wai-Gaoqiao port regularly. The investigation was completed independently after the seamen read the informed consent and said yes to our survey. After collating the results of their questionnaire, an analyze was carried out on the relationship that may exist between the respondents’ psychological health features and their work environment, life events, social support, marital quality, personality and behavioral characteristics. The sum of international seamen’SCL-90and grades of every factor were chosen as dependent variables, with the factors of interpersonal relationship, emotional status, and social support utilization as independent variables,ResultsFrom July2010to December2010, we make a investigation with a total questionnaires number of600, from which510questionnaires were valid. All the seamen are male, among them110are from China mainland and400are foreign seamen. The average age of the China mainland seamen is32.7, the minimum is22, and the maximum is63, while the average age of the foreign seamen is37, the minimum is19, and the maximum over70. Of all the China mainland seamen,90.0%have University graduate degree or above, While the counterpart of the foreigner is52.5%. Of all the China mainland seamen, only16.5%have relegion faith, while the counterpart of the foreigner is over95.5%. There is significant difference between them (X2=60.627P<0.0001). There is54.5%of the China mainland seamen and38.2%of the foreigner complained of insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and other subjective discomfort. There is56%of the China mainland seamen and52.3%of the foreigner complain of panic, anxiety, depression and other psychological problems of varying degrees. There is no difference between the mainland seamen and the foreign seamen about the percentage of occupation, department, sea-age, annual income. The most line of the mainland seamen service are past south east Asia and North Pacific line, altogether they are84.5%of all the lines, while that of the foreign seamen is the south-east-Malaysia-the Suez Canal line with the percentage of58.4%, there is significant difference among the shipping lines(X2=150.175P<0.0001).Psychological health characteristics multi-factors analysis showed that the age, department and position of the international seamen has obvious effect only on few factors of the psychological health factor of seamen, while the international seamen’ social support factors appear quite opposite to most of the seamen’s psychological health factors, The negative emotion factors of the international seamen appear quite related to seamen’s psychological health factors, while the active emotion factors appear quite opposite to the factors. The degree of rational way to deal with the interpersonal relationship quite related to psychological health status of international seamen, while social support utilization negatively correlated with Psychological health characteristics of seamen.Multi-regression showed that different demographic variables (consist of nationality, ethnic, cultural, religion, age, marital quality, education degree, age, working years) and the interpersonal relationship, emotional states caused by life event, lack of social support were highly related to the Psychological health problems of international seamen.ConclusionsThere are many influencing factors that affect the Psychological features of the international seamen, for example, life events, social support, marital quality, personality and behavioral characteristics which associated with other biological, physical and chemical factors, together to be effective. Therefore, attention should be paid to Psychological features of seamen, and take effective measures, to conduct regular health guidance and health checks, according to international seamen’ working and resting patterns, to increase social support and family care, to make effective counseling and intervention for international seamen when they facing psychological problems, and to help them recognize the importance of mental health. constantly improve their mental health status, in order to adapt to the environment as well as reducing the incidence of psychosomatic illness... |
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