Mental health of fishermen: current research status and future directions-insights from seafarer studies (a scoping review).

چکیده اصلی

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This scoping review systematically mapped current research on fishermen's mental health. Using the more methodologically mature field of seafarer research as a reference, it aimed to identify key limitations and future directions for the fishermen's mental health domain. METHODS: Guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework, a systematic search of Chinese and English databases was conducted. Studies on fishermen and seafarers were included, categorized, and comparatively analyzed. MAIN FINDINGS: Analysis of the 41 included studies (This paper cites 46 articles; 41 of which are obtained by the method of review. The additional 5 references are theoretical or methodological articles cited in the introduction and methods sections to provide background and methodological justification) revealed several insights. First, there is a severe shortage of high-quality empirical research on fishermen. Study designs are dominated by cross-sectional surveys, and reports of issues like burnout and sleep disorders show regional variations. Second, factors influencing fishermen's mental health operate at multiple levels. Occupational environmental factors (e.g., high-intensity labor) represent a core shared challenge for both groups. However, fishermen's mental health is also subject to more direct and acute impacts from policy and economic factors (e.g., fishing bans, income instability). It is further moderated by socio-cultural factors (e.g., norms emphasizing resilience that deter help-seeking). Finally, evidence-based psychological interventions for fishermen are extremely scarce. Existing studies are largely confined to theory or policy recommendations. Explorations in the seafaring domain-regarding mental health education, institutionalized rest, and technology-enabled support-provide clear directions for designing interventions tailored to fishermen's working conditions. CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK: Future research should prioritize large-scale, nationally representative baseline surveys of fishermen's mental health. Building on seafarer research, efforts should focus on constructing an integrated intervention system. This system should encompass livelihood security policies, community support networks, and the application of digital technologies.

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