Written Assignment 1-Maritime Profession and Depression

Written Assignment 1-Maritime Profession and Depression

Background

Seafaring has been widely reported as a risky profession when it comes to mental and physical health. According to Brooks & Greenberg (2022), working on a ship entails significant physical and mental demands, which cannot be readily compared with demands in the onshore professions. Seafarers’ profession means that the workers are at the workplace, whether working or not, with only their colleagues, making the profession an isolated workgroup (Jensen & Oldenberg, 2019). The more time seafarers spend with their colleagues, it is positive their relationships are and that they work and live in cohesion. However, researchers have found that there are often frequent conflicts between different departments and ranks, which, when combined with long periods away from families and homes, can result in homesickness and loneliness (Brooks & Greenberg, 2022). As known in the profession of psychology, loneliness is a conducive environment for depression and negative thoughts. Slišković & Penezić (2015) added that seafarers are obviously isolated in the physical environment, which is not ideal for both their physical and mental health because they are constantly exposed to prolonged conditions like vibrations, high-pitched noises, unstable moisture conditions, high temperatures, and cold spells.

Moreover, seafarers work on a ‘watch system’ where they are expected to sleep fewer hours and work long hours, leading to fatigue that is increased by the different time zones as they travel on long journeys (Brooks & Greenberg, 2022). Brooks & Greenberg (2022) also add that other factors of risk for fatigue include disrupted Circadian rhythms. These disrupted Circadian rhythms are caused by changing shifts, night shifts, irregular work hours, rotating watch systems, exposure to tough physical environment factors like engine vibration and noise, and high job pressure and demands. Seafarers are at risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide when these factors are coupled with other stressors such as reduced or no time for recreation, lack of leaves, job insecurity, the experience of piracy, parent and relationship status (especially unmarried personnel), and economic pressure. (Brooks & Greenberg, 2022).

Sociological Perspectives and Understanding of Depression in Seafarers’ Profession

Conflict theorists believe that social stratification is not beneficial to the entire society as functionalist theorists see it. Rather, they attest that social stratification benefits the few rich people in society at the expense of the poor (Griffiths et al., 2017). Therefore according to conflict theorists, stratification brings inequality to society. In turn, inequality is the cause of the stressors to the proletariats, pushing them to the risk factors of depression and suicide. This perspective draws from the works of Karl Marx, who observed that bourgeois capitalists were owners of high-producing businesses, land, and factories, as they still are in the current world (Griffiths et al., 2017). On the other hand, the proletariats were the employees tasked with hard manual labor to produce goods. As the rich got richer as they exploited the proletariats, the poor got poorer as they were paid low wages. These two groups were divided by power and wealth. Marx observed that the proletariats were exploited and oppressed by the powerful and wealthy bourgeois. Karl Marx also saw that the proletariats experienced misery, isolation, and deep alienation, risk factors for stress, anxiety, and depression (Griffiths et al., 2017). Thus, the proletariats have to work very hard to get themselves out of their misery, even now. A good example of the professionals working so hard and experiencing what Karl Marx described in the bourgeois-proletariat division is the seafarers. They are alienated, first from other people onshore, then from the rich who can afford less stressful professions.

Need help with your assignment ? Contact us.

Moreover, symbolic interactionism believes that people primarily interact with those with similar social standing (Griffiths et al., 2017). Symbolic interactionists argue that people tend to associate, work, and live with others like themselves, those with the same racial background, educational background, and income level, as well as clothing, music, and food. This kind of interaction seems limited in a profession like seafaring. Mellbye & Carter (2017) write that seafarers in trading ships that sail in deep seas are often at sea for months or weeks. They are exposed to isolated working and social conditions, exacerbated by reductions in ship crews and separation from their family members. This means that social interaction is even limited at best and cut out at worst. Armand (2021) finds that personal, emotional, and close friendship conversations are uncommon at sea, where social life is solidly hierarchical, and senior ranks show the need to maintain social distance. Since the seafarers hardly communicate with the people they relate with at home, such as family and friends, they feel lonely and isolated. This is made worse by the COVID-19 stipulations that require social distancing. The longer they stay onshore, the longer they are isolated and far removed from the social setting leading to risk factors of loneliness, depression, and suicide.

Lastly, Carol-Dekker (2018) found that maritime organizations are amalgamated with individuals from different cultural, national, and individual identities. Therefore, the maritime industry is mainly a multicultural work environment. This means seafarers are open to diverse races, genders, languages, cultures, and nationalities. In an isolated environment, this kind of environment is not conducive to the formation of friendship and deep emotional connections because, as symbolic interactionists put it, individuals tend to interact with people they can relate with in terms of educational background, race, ethnicity, family, and friends. In a multicultural environment, it may be difficult for an individual to interact emotionally or in a friendly manner with other people from different nations, races, languages, or ethnicities if they do not relate with them. This is worsened if the crew number on board is limited, increasing the risk of depression. Racial prejudice is also likely to happen on board if there is a dominant race. According to symbolic interactionist Herbert Blumer, racial prejudice is made via interactions between dominant group members, and without the interactions, the dominant group individuals would not have racist views (Griffiths et al., 2017). If this were to happen, the minority races are likely to be more distressed and isolated, leading to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, stress, and depression.

References

Armand, N. K. (2021). Depression, the unspoken threat to life at sea, and measures taken towards the fight of depression.

Brooks, S. K., & Greenberg, N. (2022). Mental health and psychological wellbeing of maritime personnel: a systematic review. BMC Psychology, 10(1), 1-26.

Carol-Dekker, L. (2018). Maritime culture: A sociological perspective. International Journal of Maritime History, 30(2), 302-314.

Griffiths, H. et al. (2017). Introduction to Sociology 2e. Texas: OpenStax; Rice Univesity.

Jensen, H. J., & Oldenburg, M. (2019). Potentially traumatic experiences of seafarers. Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology, 14(1), 1-6.

Mellbye, A., & Carter, T. (2017). Seafarers’ depression and suicide. International Maritime Health, 68(2), 108-114.

Slišković, A., & Penezić, Z. (2015). Occupational stressors, risks and health in the seafaring population. Review of Psychology, 22(1-2), 29-40.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

You will be required to submit two research papers. Written Assignment 1 will be due at the end of Unit 4 and Written Assignment 2 will be due at the end of Unit 7. Each paper will allow you to broaden your understanding of a particular sociological concept, idea, or personal experience.

Written Assignment 1-Maritime Profession and Depression

This written assignment should be 2-3 pages of content in length and include 3 outside sources (in addition to your text). There should be at least 2 full pages and material on the 3rd page to meet the minimum. However, you are encouraged to go beyond the length requirements. It is also important that at least two of these references be a scholarly journal article (peer-reviewed). Please use the Resources link to find great resources and additional links to references. Please don’t forget the Post virtual library.