Burnout Levels and Influencing Factors among Korean Seafarers

This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the burnout levels and influencing factors among Korean seafarers. Data were collected from 300 seafarers with onboard experience, focusing on their general, occupational, and health-related characteristics. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which comprises three subscales: Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Personal Accomplishment (PA). The overall burnout level among Korean seafarers was high, with more than half of the participants classified as being at high risk across all three MBI subscales. Significant differences in burnout levels were identified according to age, education level, marital status, service period, job position, and health-related characteristics. Among these variables, age emerged as the strongest influencing factor, with seafarers in their 20s and 30s demonstrating the highest vulnerability. The findings indicate that Korean seafarers experience a considerably higher level of burnout compared to both international seafarers and land-based professionals. This condition appears to result from a combination of occupational demands, such as extended working hours, and demographic vulnerability among younger generations. To address this issue, comprehensive intervention strategies are needed, including structural measures to alleviate job-related stressors and tailored psychosocial support programs to promote resilience among young seafarers.