Role strain among seafarers working in bulk carrier vessels is a common occurrence, with numerous challenges contributing to their physical and psychological pressures. With this observation, the researchers aim to analyze the roles played by Filipino seafarers across different ship environments and investigate the significance of coping strategies in mitigating role strain, thereby contributing to the well-being of seafarers worldwide. The study focuses on 60 Filipino seafarers engaged in bulk vessel operations for various Philippine companies with prolonged period of onboard experience from 6 months onwards. Utilizing a validated survey questionnaire, and administered both virtual (through Google Forms) and face-to-face, the study generated data on the Filipino seafarers’ demographic profiles, role-related strains, and coping strategies. To analyze the data, frequency count, percentage, weighted mean, and Pearson r were employed. Notably, the strain experienced by the respondents in roles such as father or mother, co-worker, and friend showed significant relationships with coping strategies, as indicated by Pearson correlations. Specifically, strain in the parental role demonstrated a Pearson r of 0.58 with a p-value of 0.003, while strain as a co-worker displayed a Pearson r of 0.38 with a p-value of 0.003. Similarly, strain in the friend role exhibited a Pearson r of 0.45 with a p-value of 0.001, all indicating significant relationships. Conversely, roles like husband or wife, son or daughter, and seafarer did not show significant correlations with coping strategies, as evidenced by their respective Pearson correlations and p-values. These findings demonstrated the importance of understanding role-related strains and coping mechanisms among Filipino seafarers, particularly in familial, professional, and social contexts, to better support their mental well-being and overall resilience at sea.

Keywords: role strain, coping strategies, physical and psychological pressures, well-being