This study offers an insight regarding seafarers' perceptions of factors of psychological distress on shipboard. To identify stressors on maritime workers, a cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting a population of workers of Italian shipping companies sailing across the world. The research aimed to investigate workers' demographic and professional characteristics and the ways they influence perception of job fatigue, using an Italian version of the Karasek questionnaire. Of the involved seafarers, 80.1% returned the questionnaire, yielding a mean level of perceived job demand of 32.8 points and a mean level of perceived decision latitude of 65.5 points; 37.2% of interviewees stated having a scarce level of decision latitude. The results of the multivariate logistic regression models allowed assessment of the seafarers' characteristics related to their perception of job strain. These results confirm the need for measures that prevent stress factors in maritime workers.
Keywords: Job strain; seafaring; work health.