Perceived Stress, Life Satisfaction and Mental Well-Being of Fishermen in Kerala

Abstract

Fishermen in Indian coastal areas are at a high risk of stress with its consequences on both physical and mental health. The present study aimed to assess stress, life satisfaction and mental well-being among married and unmarried fishermen of the Calicut district in Kerala. The sample involved a representative sample of 120 fishermen (60 married and 60 unmarried), between the ages 20-50 years. The mean age was 35.5 years. All participants were males and had regular activity for at least 5 years. The fishermen responded to multiple assessments including Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWB) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Correlation Analyses indicated that there was a significant negative correlation between perceived stress and life satisfaction, perceived stress and mental well-being and a significant positive correlation between life satisfaction and mental well-being. There were significant differences between married and unmarried fishermen on the three mentioned dimensions. There is a significant association between perceived stress, life satisfaction and mental well-being among married and unmarried fishermen population. The implications and suggestions of the study include improving the living conditions, income and insurance policies, and safety and awareness campaigns for the fishermen.