Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Seafarer Mental Health and Safety Performance Aboard Nigerian Vessels

Mental health conditions among seafarers are associated with cognitive impairment, decision-making deficits, and increased risk of human error, yet the seafarer mental health literature specific to the Nigerian maritime context remains very limited. This study empirically investigates the relationship between self-reported mental health status and safety performance indicators among seafarers employed aboard Nigerian-flagged vessels. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with a validated mental health screening instrument and a safety performance behaviour scale administered to two hundred and fifteen seafarers recruited from vessels at Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri ports. Mental health scores, job demands, social support availability, and safety behaviours were analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings reveal that approximately thirty-one percent of respondents meet the threshold for probable anxiety disorder and twenty-four percent for probable depression, rates that are significantly higher than those reported in comparable European seafarer populations. Structural equation modelling results confirm that poorer mental health scores are significantly and negatively associated with both safety compliance behaviours and safety participation behaviours, after controlling for rank, experience, and vessel type. Social support from fellow crew members is identified as a significant moderating variable. The study contributes an empirically validated structural model to the literature and provides Nigerian-specific prevalence data on seafarer mental health. Keywords: seafarer mental health, safety performance, depression, structural equation modelling, human factors