The relationship between self-efficacy and emotional burnout levels of seafarers: the role of individual alienation – the case of Turkey

Purpose - The study aims to examine the factors that may affect the burnout levels of ship workers. Design/methodology/approach - The scope of the research consists of seafarers on ships docking at the ports of Zonguldak, Karadeniz Eregli, Eren and Filyos in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey. The sample consists of officers, engineers, dynamic position operators, electricians, boatswains, able seamans, pumpmans and stewards working on ships. In this respect, a random questionnaire was used in the research method and a questionnaire was sent to 400 of these employees, representing the main sample, and 263 of them fully answered the online questionnaire. Findings - As a result of the research, first of all, it is seen that the increase in the self-efficacy of the seafarers decreases their emotional burnout levels. In the second step, the strong self-efficacy of the seafarers reduced the level of individual alienation. In the third step, the increase in the individual alienation of the ship workers also caused an increase in the levels of emotional exhaustion. Originality/value - As a result, it has been seen that there is a partial mediating role of individual alienation in the relationship between the self-efficacy of the seafarers and their emotional exhaustion. In other words, high self-efficacy is not the only reason for the decrease in emotional burnout levels among seafarers. At the same time, self-efficacy has an effect on the individual alienation levels of seafarers.