Beneath the Surface: Mental Health in Commercial Fisheries

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dzugan J ; Gertz K ; Graham J ; Jenkins P ; Kincl, Laurel ; McCue-Weil L ; Pain M ; Quinn B ; Roome AB ; Sorensen J ; Sulman HB ; Weil R
• Description:
  Commercial fishing is a dangerous occupation where injuries, stress, and traumatic events are common. This study determined probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rates in a cohort of 142 commercial fishermen in the United States and assessed factors that influence PTSD outcomes and severity. Fishermen representing four fisheries were sampled: salmon gillnetters (Alaska), Dungeness crab (Oregon), scallopers and lobstermen (Massachusetts). Participants self-reported information on health, sleep, activity, and substance use through surveys, and responded to a brief PTSD screener (PC-PTSD-5) that assesses probable PTSD under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Positive PTSD screening rates in male fishermen were 12% (as compared to 10% for female fishermen), roughly three times the national average for US men (4%). Fishermen with self-reported depression, financial struggles, inability to control important things in their lives, difficulty going to (p = .0278) or staying (p= .038) asleep were significantly more likely to screen positive for PTSD. Factors influencing the severity of PTSD symptoms in those that have experienced a traumatic event included: financial insecurity, interpersonal concerns (family, crew), stress, and concern for safety on the vessel. Interestingly, sleep variables did not impact the severity of PTSD symptoms, only the outcome of probable PTSD. These results suggest the need to better understand the nature of traumatic events in fishing communities and to validate existing PTSD screening tools with fishermen to determine their accuracy in diagnosing PTSD in this population. Additionally, tailored behavioral health care for fishermen is essential to effective treatment and recovery from trauma. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cohort Studies Hunting Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Commercial Fishing Cohort Studies Fishing Industry Mental Health Post-traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alaska ; Boston Region [OSHA] ; Massachusetts ; New York ; New York City Region [OSHA] ; Oregon ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; San Francisco Region [OSHA] ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070768
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2025 Mar; :[Epub ahead of print]
• Contact Point Address:
  Amanda B. Roome, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, The Northeast Center for Occupational Health andSafety, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326
• Email:
  Amanda.Roome@bassett.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20190901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ee4f8ab031a555eb62e3e01720bd79a375abf546ac12b4f0afbe9a452c9f6a69882782b8af811cfc4b289dd6369196d14bbca1ce5902f107bdf22d77f8a3e1fc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208926/cdc_208926_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 744.39 KB ]