Objectives Recent investigations have shown that workplace bullying as a long lasting traumatic experience with the symptoms of victimisation may lead to psychological distress. The objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence of workplace bullying among seafarers and the associations with psychological distress in Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Method In this obseravtional study, totally 450 sefarers were investigated (response rate 68%). We used the anonymous questionnaire with demographical variables, Negative acts questionnaire and GHQ-12. The SPSS 17.0 was used in the statisciacal analysis. Logistic regression analysis was employed for the associations between workplace bullying and mental distress among seafarers, controlling for variety of demographical and pyschosocial factors.

Results The prevalence of occasional bullying among seafarers was 10.1%, severe bullying 3.8%, mental distress 9.3%. The OR of occasional bullying for psychological distress was 2.92; 95% CI 0.99–8.61, of severe bullying 4.60; 95% CI 1.13–18.78. After adjustment for nationality, age, occupational position the OR of occasional bullying for psychological distress was 3.47; 95% CI 0.95–12.63, of severe bullying 6.52; 95% CI 1.34–31.76.

Conclusions The significant associations between workplace bullying and psychological distress implicate that the preventive measures should be directed towards the improvement of the psychological climate in the workplace for health promotion strategies in seafaring.