Occupational Stressors Among US Maritime Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Content Analysis by Age and Gender

Details

• Journal Article:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Clonch, Allison C. ; Monsey, Lily M. ; Baker, Marissa G.
• Description:
  Objective: The study investigated how COVID-19 impacted US mariners' well-being and the differences in stressors and needs by demographic group. Methods: Using a qualitative content analysis, we analyzed 478 open-ended responses from US mariners who worked during the pandemic to systematically identify stressors and solutions. Results: Inadequate organizational support, inability to deboard the vessel, and ineffective COVID-19 controls were identified as primary stressors. Female mariners reported more economic uncertainty concerns, while younger mariners (18 to 34) more frequently mentioned extended voyages and inability to deboard. Conclusions: These findings offer useful insights for the maritime industry to inform actionable strategies in future public health emergencies. Findings suggest a need for equitable application of emergency protocols, processes to preserve shore leave, consistent communication between shoreside employers and vessels, and mechanisms to address workforce well-being through compensation and recognition.
• Subjects:
  Age Factors COVID-19 Mental Health Occupational Health Safety Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Mariners; Maritime Workers; COVID-19; Occupational Stress; Mental Health; Gender Differences; Age Differences; Qualitative Content Analysis; Women In Maritime; Shore Leave; Organizational Support COVID-19; Marine Workers; Well-being; Job Stress; Qualitative Analysis; Health Communications; Work Organization; Mental Health; Age Factors;
• Source:
  J Occup Environ Med 2025 Oct; 67(10):856-861
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Washington ; San Francisco Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  6 pdf pages
• Volume:
  67
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071293
• Contact Point Address:
  Linda Forst, MD, MPH, University of Illinois Chicago, School of Public Health, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612
• Email:
  acclonch@uw.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a179e04d96ddeb1de82d9eda0ac7ff2d89e3f10bfb5e197355464fa71e3a4a2cb8df78896c94a9f31a81e94e6b34adbfcfeff8dc421da36ba548b60b9a72d143
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258770/cdc_258770_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 197.14 KB ]