Evaluation of psychic parameters in seamen and fishermen with a long employment period. Part I.

The aim of the present study was to select these personality features of seafarers with a long employment period, which affect the process of occupational adaptation. A group of 588 seamen of deck, catering and engine crew--including fishermen from the fish processing plant, mean age 44,89 years and the mean period of employment at sea 19,42 years, was subjected to MMPI test. The highest number of results deviating from the norm were found in the group of engine crew. The highest rate of psychological disturbances were found in fishermen from the processing plant. The smallest amount of pathology revealing results were noted in the deck and catering crew--it comprised the highest number of seamen counted as psychologically normal and the least as neurotic. In all the seamen and fishermen tested the examinations revealed a high prevalence of neuroses--36% of the population examined particularly psychosomatic neurosis. Neurosis presents a serious health problem in this occupational group, and it is probably caused by the specific conditions of life and work at sea.