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Aim <p>This study systematically explores the psychosocial challenges faced by early-career Turkish ship captains while serving at sea, using the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework.</p> Background <p>Ship captains often experience isolation and demanding working conditions at sea, placing them at risk for various psychosocial challenges, including stress, burnout, and social isolation. Despite the importance of their role in global maritime transport, research examining these psychosocial challenges from ship captains' own perspectives remains limited.</p> Methods <p>In this phenomenological study, in-depth online interviews were conducted with 11 participants actively serving aboard ships at the time of the study. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method. Subsequently, the emergent themes were organized within the SWOT framework into four domains and 15 subthemes.</p> Results <p>The analysis identified four main themes (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) comprising 15 subthemes. Strengths included motivation, professional experience, leadership skills, and coping strategies. Weaknesses reflected psychosocial challenges, including loneliness, emotional strain, and decision-making difficulties. Opportunities included technological developments, digitalization, international work exposure, and personal and professional growth. Threats included natural and physical risks, organizational pressures, sectoral instability, technological transformation, and gender-based inequalities reported by the participants.</p> Conclusion <p>The findings of this qualitative study highlight the psychosocial challenges reported by early-career Turkish ship captains and draw attention to the importance of individual and institutional approaches to support psychosocial well-being in similar maritime contexts. The study also underscores the importance of further research involving more diverse samples to better understand psychosocial risks in the maritime sector.</p>

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The deep burden of a leader at sea: a qualitative swot analysis of psychosocial challenges reported by early-career Turkish ship captains

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月1日

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  • Cansu Nirgiz,
  • Merve Kıymaç Sarı,
  • Gül Dikeç

摘要

Aim

This study systematically explores the psychosocial challenges faced by early-career Turkish ship captains while serving at sea, using the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework.

Background

Ship captains often experience isolation and demanding working conditions at sea, placing them at risk for various psychosocial challenges, including stress, burnout, and social isolation. Despite the importance of their role in global maritime transport, research examining these psychosocial challenges from ship captains' own perspectives remains limited.

Methods

In this phenomenological study, in-depth online interviews were conducted with 11 participants actively serving aboard ships at the time of the study. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method. Subsequently, the emergent themes were organized within the SWOT framework into four domains and 15 subthemes.

Results

The analysis identified four main themes (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) comprising 15 subthemes. Strengths included motivation, professional experience, leadership skills, and coping strategies. Weaknesses reflected psychosocial challenges, including loneliness, emotional strain, and decision-making difficulties. Opportunities included technological developments, digitalization, international work exposure, and personal and professional growth. Threats included natural and physical risks, organizational pressures, sectoral instability, technological transformation, and gender-based inequalities reported by the participants.

Conclusion

The findings of this qualitative study highlight the psychosocial challenges reported by early-career Turkish ship captains and draw attention to the importance of individual and institutional approaches to support psychosocial well-being in similar maritime contexts. The study also underscores the importance of further research involving more diverse samples to better understand psychosocial risks in the maritime sector.