Dominique Jegaden1,2,3, Myriam Menaheze4,5, David Lucas4,5, Brice Loddé4,6, Jean-Dominique Dewitte4,6. 1. French Society of Maritime Medicine (Société Française de Médecine Maritime [SFMM]), Brest, France. dominique.jegaden@medecine-maritime.fr. 2. Centre for Occupational Medicine (Santé au Travail en Iroise), Brest, France. dominique.jegaden@medecine-maritime.fr. 3. University of Western Brittany (Université de Bretagne Occidentale) Brest, France. dominique.jegaden@medecine-maritime.fr. 4. French Society of Maritime Medicine (Société Française de Médecine Maritime [SFMM]), Brest, France. 5. Centre for Occupational Medicine (Santé au Travail en Iroise), Brest, France. 6. University of Western Brittany (Université de Bretagne Occidentale) Brest, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The question we asked was whether it is worthwhile screening for seafarers who are prone to boredom, and whose mental health might deteriorate on board because of the particular character of life at sea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Farmer and Sundberg Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS), validated in French, as well as the Zigmond and Snaith Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The survey was voluntary and responses were collected by means of questionnaires which were returned by post. RESULTS: Eighty seafarers (40 officers and 40 crew) as well as 63 office staff from the same shipping company were included in the survey. We found a significant difference between officers and operational personnel: average score of 8.4 ± 5 (median = 7) for officers and 10.2 ± 4.8 (median = 10) for operational personnel. 21% of the officers have scores greater than or equal to 12 compared with 41% of the crew. There is a significant correlation between the BPS and HADS test scores, in terms of depression, for the office staff and the seafarers taken as a whole; this correlation being highly significant among officers (r = +0.85), but only marginally significant among crew members (r = +0.54). CONCLUSIONS: The BPS may be useful in screening for seafarers prone to boredom and depression for their fitness for embarkation.
BACKGROUND: The question we asked was whether it is worthwhile screening for seafarers who are prone to boredom, and whose mental health might deteriorate on board because of the particular character of life at sea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Farmer and Sundberg Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS), validated in French, as well as the Zigmond and Snaith Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The survey was voluntary and responses were collected by means of questionnaires which were returned by post. RESULTS: Eighty seafarers (40 officers and 40 crew) as well as 63 office staff from the same shipping company were included in the survey. We found a significant difference between officers and operational personnel: average score of 8.4 ± 5 (median = 7) for officers and 10.2 ± 4.8 (median = 10) for operational personnel. 21% of the officers have scores greater than or equal to 12 compared with 41% of the crew. There is a significant correlation between the BPS and HADS test scores, in terms of depression, for the office staff and the seafarers taken as a whole; this correlation being highly significant among officers (r = +0.85), but only marginally significant among crew members (r = +0.54). CONCLUSIONS: The BPS may be useful in screening for seafarers prone to boredom and depression for their fitness for embarkation.
Authors: David Lucas; Victorita Corman; Olaf C Jensen; Ilona Denisenko; Don E-Iii Lucero-Prisno; Maria L Canals Journal: J Glob Health Date: 2022-05-23 Impact factor: 7.664
Authors: David Lucas; Olaf Chresten Jensen; Brice Loddé; Richard Pougnet; Jean-Dominique Dewitte; Dominique Jegaden Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-02-11 Impact factor: 3.390