Pauksztat, Birgit (2017) “Team play”: Seafarers' strategies for coping with job demands of short sea cargo shipping lines. In: International Conference on Maritime Policy, Technology and Education, 7th - 8th June 2017, Southampton, UK. (Unpublished)

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Previous research has advanced our understanding of job demands in seafaring. However, little is known about the strategies that seafarers use for coping with these demands. Taking an inductive approach, this study identifies seafarers’ strategies for coping with the job demands of short sea cargo shipping lines, and explores the constraints and resources affecting the availability and effectiveness of these strategies. Data came from interviews with officers and crew on five cargo ships in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Extending previous research in the context of seafaring, the interviews document a broad set of coping strategies. This includes problem focused and emotion focused strategies, strategies aimed at protecting resources, and strategies aimed at changing external constraints. Thus, instead of remaining passive, the interviews suggest that seafarers seek to take an active role in managing job demands. In contrast to previous research on coping that focused on individual strategies, this study highlights the collective aspects of these strategies. A good working climate, characterized by good interpersonal relations and collaboration, provides the basis for many of these strategies, and thus forms a key resource for coping. Other important resources are crew members’ competence levels, and time to rest.

Taken together, the study reveals complex interrelations between external constraints, job demands, resources, and coping strategies. Job demands not only act as stressors, but, together with external constraints (e.g., legislation; companies’ HR policies and practices), they also affect resources, and undermine the availability and effectiveness of coping strategies.

Item Type:	Conference or Conference Paper (Paper)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cargo shipping; Coping strategies; Interview study; Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model; social relations; collaboration
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Business Faculty of Business > Networks and Urban Systems Centre (NUSC) > Centre for Business Network Analysis (CBNA) Faculty of Business > Department of Human Resources & Organisational Behaviour Faculty of Business > Centre for Work and Employment Research (CREW) > Leadership & Organisational Behaviour Research Group (LOB)
Last Modified:	22 Mar 2017 16:17
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/16532

Actions (login required)

View Item