STRESS AMONG SEAMEN

The origin and type of stress among seamen were investigated by means of interviews with three harbor physicians in Rotterdam. The main psyc hological problems encountered were loneliness, homesickness, and ''bu rn-out'' syndrome. The problems were primarily caused by long periods away From home, the decreased number of seamen per ship, and by increa sed automatization. Quantification of the prevalence and severity of t hese problems is necessary to elucidate preventive and therapeutic mea sures.