Job demands and burnout among Chinese seafarers — the chain mediating effects of work engagement and depression

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of work engagement and depression on the relationship between job demands and burnout among Chinese seafarers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study used Harman's single-factor test, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis. A total of 1,084 Chinese seafarers participated in this study, completing the Job Demands subscale of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), and the Maslach Burnout Inven-tory-General Survey (MBI-GS). Data were collected from July 2025 to August 2025. RESULTS: The results indicated that, among Chinese seafarers: 1) job demands significantly and negatively predicted burnout; 2) work engagement mediated the relationship between job demands and burnout; 3)depression mediated the relationship between job demands and burnout; and 4) work engagement and depression exerted a chain mediating effect between job demands and burnout. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have important practical implications for understanding the factors influencing burnout among Chinese seafarers and offer new insights for mental health interventions and maritime safety management.