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    Identifying Predictors of Stress and Job Satisfaction in a Sample of Merchant Seafarers Using Structural Equation Modeling


    McVeigh, Joanne, MacLachlan, Malcolm, Vallières, Frédérique, Hyland, Philip, Stilz, Rudiger, Cox, Henriette and Fraser, Alistair (2019) Identifying Predictors of Stress and Job Satisfaction in a Sample of Merchant Seafarers Using Structural Equation Modeling. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 (70). ISSN 1664-1078

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    Abstract

    Background: Seafarers are amongst occupational groups with the highest risk for stress, a factor known to impact on mental health. Psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, suicide, and alcohol or drug dependence are recognized health problems within the maritime sector. The primary aim of this study was to identify which individual and occupational factors, known to impact on psychological functioning across the maritime industry and other sectors, best predict perceived stress and job satisfaction among a sample of merchant seafarers. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using a work experiences and attitudes questionnaire administered by a large shipping company to seafarers within their organization. Structural equation modeling was conducted using a proposed theoretical model of perceived stress and job satisfaction in a sample of merchant seafarers. Results: While the structural equation model produced acceptable fit to the sample data according to numerous goodness-of-fit statistics, the comparative fit index and Tucker-Lewis index results indicated less than satisfactory model fit. The model explained 23.8% of variance in the criterion variable of perceived stress, and the strongest predictive effect was for dispositional resilience. The model explained 70.6% of variance in the criterion variable of job satisfaction, and the strongest predictive effect was for instrumental work support. Conclusion: When addressing the psychosocial well-being of merchant seafarers, findings of this study suggest that dispositional resilience may be a particularly important factor with regards to perceived stress, while instrumental work support appears to be a critical factor in relation to job satisfaction. Importantly, however, an overall work environment that is perceived by employees as supportive, equal and just is a cornerstone for the psychosocial well-being of seafarers.
    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: Citation: McVeigh J, MacLachlan M, Vallières F, Hyland P, Stilz R, Cox H and Fraser A (2019) Identifying Predictors of Stress and Job Satisfaction in a Sample of Merchant Seafarers Using Structural Equation Modeling. Front. Psychol. 10:70. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00070 . Copyright © 2019 McVeigh, MacLachlan, Vallières, Hyland, Stilz, Cox and Fraser. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
    Keywords: merchant seafarers; maritime; psychosocial well-being; perceived stress; job satisfaction; structural equation modeling;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
    Item ID: 12215
    Identification Number: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00070
    Depositing User: Philip Hyland
    Date Deposited: 20 Jan 2020 15:22
    Journal or Publication Title: Frontiers in Psychology
    Publisher: Frontiers Media
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/12215
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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