Filipino Seafarers’ Lived Experiences towards a Wellness Model

Abstract

This quantitative-qualitative study was conducted to describe the livedexperiences relating to stress, stressors, and coping responses of Filipino seafarersleading to the design of a biopsychosociospiritual wellness program. This studywas anchored on van Manen’s (1990) phenomenological theory. Respondents of this study were ten (10) selected seafarers. This study used interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussion. Results were as follows: seafarershave experienced disturbed sleep, headache, and depression, as their main stressexperiences; seafarers’ stressors experienced were delayed promotion, insufficientincome, and children’s poor health and children’s poor performance; seafarers’coping behaviors were praying, talking with friends or shipmates, and viewingmovies; seafarers’ autonomy through the design of the wellness program toimprove their life and their well-being not only for themselves but for their lovedones. Comprehensive Wellness Program for Seafarers: A BiopsychosociospiritualApproach describes the holistic and comprehensive strategies/activitiesthat seafarers can engage with to assure their over-all wellness and holisticdevelopment. Seafarer’s health, creating a full and balanced lifestyle and achievesthe best professional can be achieved. Interest in the plight of seafarers coincideswith the comprehensive whole seafarer wellness model that includes biological,psychological, social and spiritual dimensions.Keywords: Biopsychosociospiritual wellness program, lived experiences, stress, copingresponses