Technological innovations, industry trends, and challenges faced by the shipping industry have affected the well-being of Filipino seafarers, which largely contributed to their occupational stress. The study aimed to determine the factors contributing to the stress of seafarers onboard oceangoing vessels, identify coping mechanisms in managing and addressing their stress, and look into the support programs implemented by crewing agencies to reduce the stress of their crew.

Factors contributing to stress are categorized into 1) psychological-related matters that include concern for loved ones ashore, financial obligations, communication opportunities with family members, high accountability, the magnitude of responsibility, and high volume of work; 2) physical-related factors relate to sleep loss and fatigue due to long hours of work; 3) environment-related factors pertain to harsh weather and changing climate conditions, sea movements, extreme heat and noisy working environment; 4) social-related factors are on interpersonal relationship and culture-based discrimination, language barrier of crew due to different cultural background. Other factors contributing to stress depend on the position, license, vessel type, ship route, and frequency of port calls.

For coping mechanisms, seafarers communicate with their family, talk to friends and shipmates, listen to music, pray and meditate, and engage in interactive and recreational activities onboard. The measures to minimize stress conducted by crewing agencies are provisions of recreational facilities,  weekend socialization of crew through barbecue parties and sports tournaments, and provision to seafarers internet connection during their off-time period.

To address the problems of stress, it is recommended to re-visit the topics being discussed in Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and consider the inclusion of topics on the management of the identified factors contributing to the stress of Filipino seafarers; review/enhance the maritime curriculum incorporating topics on personality and resiliency building, and establishment of crew welfare department by shipping agencies that will be in charge of the crew welfare and their family.