title: The Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) for assessing stress of seafarers on board merchant ships.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In their working activity, seafarers are exposed to high levels of stress that should be accuratelyinvestigated, measured, followed up and, if possible, countered. This is also required by regulations recently entered into force such as the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, recommending to consider special physiological or psychological problems created by the shipboard environment. The choice of the tools for this evaluation is challenging, and a common basic standard usable in a large scale should be identified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate: 1) the suitability of the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) questionnaire conducted on board for assessing stress in the sailing seafarers, 2) The presenceof stress in seafarers of different categories (deck officers, engine officers, deck crew, engine crew, chiefstewards/catering staff) monitored by the PGWBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  162 male seafarers on board of 7 tankers belonging to the same shipping companywere evaluated through the PGWB questionnaire. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse thedifferences in the scores of the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Engine officers exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels than the deck or engine crew, andshowed lower satisfaction than the deck crew. Deck and engine officers revealed higher self-control levelsthan the engine crew. Chief stewards/catering staff showed lower vitality levels than the deck crew.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deck or engine officers should achieve a greater self-control than the crew and this is documentedby the present study. Our findings support the view that management responsibility is more often associated with higher levels of stress. In our opinion, the PGWB questionnaire is a reasonable compromise forobtaining a global evaluation of psychological conditions, including stress of seafarers. It should be therefore considered as a large scale tool for assessing the well-being and eventual stress levels of sailing seafarers.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.forename: Angiola M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fasanaro
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molino
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sibilio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saturnino
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Traini
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Telemedicine and Telepharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy; Department of Study and Research, International Radio Medical Centre (CIRM), Rome, Italy. FAmenta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amenta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D003132:Commerce; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009326:Naval Medicine; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012767:Ships; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult