A systematic review of seafarers’ psychological well-being and distress encompassing common disorders, risk factors, critical periods, and protective strategies

The resilience and uninterrupted operation of maritime shipping, which carries the largest proportion of the world’s traded goods, constitute a fundamental prerequisite for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. In an era characterised by rapid digitalisation and technological progress, even the most sophisticated machinery and monitoring systems cannot ensure smooth ship operations within the scope of maritime transportation; this is directly contingent upon experience, education, the well-being, and psychological health of the seafarers. This study conducts a systematic review of literature published over the preceding, decade focusing on the physical and psychological well-being of seafarers, utilising the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework in conjunction with VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) for bibliometric analysis. The analysis identified prevalent psychological disorders among seafarers, delineated the critical temporal phases of heightened vulnerability, and pinpointed specific ship operations posing heightened risk. While stress, depression, and fatigue have long been prevalent in the maritime profession, the Covid-19 pandemic served as a critical multiplier, substantially increasing their prevalence and severity among seafarers. Mitigating these adverse outcomes necessitates a multifaceted approach encompassing targeted training programmes, robust social support mechanisms, enhanced medical care provision, and reliable access to communication, along with adherence to the provisions stipulated in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).