Psychosocial risks and occupational health: Fatigue and sleep disturbances among aviation professionals

Carlos Manoel Lopes  Rodrigues; Karolina Elizabete  da Cruz Silva; Ligia Abreu Gomes  Cruz

doi:10.59400/apr1670

Psychosocial risks and occupational health: Fatigue and sleep disturbances among aviation professionals

Carlos Manoel Lopes Rodrigues Faculty of Health Sciences, University Center of Brasília, Brasília 70790-075, Brazil; Institute of Psychology, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
Karolina Elizabete da Cruz Silva Faculty of Health Sciences, University Center of Brasília, Brasília 70790-075, Brazil
Ligia Abreu Gomes Cruz Faculty of Health Sciences, University Center of Brasília, Brasília 70790-075, Brazil

Article ID: 1670

414 Views, 202 PDF Downloads

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/apr1670

Keywords: psychosocial risk factors; fatigue; sleep quality; aviation professionals; occupational health

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between exposure to psychosocial risk factors at work, fatigue, and sleep quality among civil aviation professionals. Psychosocial risk factors such as excessive workload, lack of control over tasks, job insecurity, and inadequate social support are prevalent in high-demand environments like civil aviation, where constant vigilance and rapid decision-making are crucial. The research involved 200 participants, including pilots and flight attendants, who completed questionnaires measuring psychosocial stressors, sleepiness, and fatigue. Results indicated significant associations between role conflict and ambiguity, lack of social support, work/family conflict, and the pressure of responsibility with increased fatigue and sleep disturbances. Gender differences were noted, with women experiencing higher levels of work/family conflict. The study emphasizes the need for organizational strategies to mitigate these psychosocial stressors by enhancing role clarity, providing social support, fostering work-life balance, and managing job responsibilities to improve health outcomes and operational safety in aviation. Future research should consider longitudinal and diverse studies to explore these dynamics further and test intervention efficacy.

References

[1]Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (2024). Anuário do Transporte Aéreo, Sumário Executivo, 2023. ANAC.

[2]Arseven, G. K., and Yurdakul, E. (2024). Commercial Airline Pilots’ Psychosocial Risk Factors: Evaluating the Mechanisms Influencing Job Satisfaction. Human Factors in Aviation and Aerospace, 1(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.26650/hfaa.1471279

[3]Bendak, S., and Rashid, H. S. J. (2020). Fatigue in aviation: A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 76, 102928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2020.102928

[4]Bertolazi, A. N., Fagondes, S. C., Hoff, L. S., et al. (2009). Portuguese-language version of the Epworth sleepiness scale: Validation for use in Brazil. Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 35(9), 877–883. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132009000900009

[5]Çaki, N. (2023). The Aviation Sector from a Work Psychological Perspective: A Bibliometric Analysis of Graduate-Level Theses Written in Türkiye. Journal of Aviation, 7(1), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1240522

[6]Caldwell, J. A. (2012). Crew Schedules, Sleep Deprivation, and Aviation Performance. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(2), 85–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721411435842

[7]Ćosić, K., Popović, S., and Wiederhold, B. K. (2024). Enhancing Aviation Safety through AI-Driven Mental Health Management for Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 27(8), 588–598. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0737

[8]Cullen, P., Cahill, J., and Gaynor, K. (2021). A Qualitative Study Exploring Well-Being and the Potential Impact of Work-Related Stress Among Commercial Airline Pilots. Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors, 11(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1027/2192-0923/a000199

[9]de Melo, M. S., and Neto, A. M. S. (2013). Narrative review on physical occupational risks and health of commercial aviation pilots (Portuguese). Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública, 36(2), 465. https://doi.org/10.22278/2318-2660.2012.v36.n2.a470

[10]Fabres, A. C., and Areosa, J. Working conditions of Brazilian pilots (Portuguese). In: Neto, H. A. V. and Areosa J. (Orgs.). Segurança ocupacional em transportes: Abordagens e sistemas de segurança nas áreas rodoviária, ferroviária, aeroportuária e naval, 1o ed. Civeri Publishing. 2018. p. 300–320.

[11]Feijó, D., Câmara, V. M., and Luiz, R. R. (2014). Aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e transtornos mentais comuns em pilotos civis. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 30(11), 2433–2442. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00151212

[12]Ferreira, M. C., Milfont, T. L., Silva, A. P. C. E., et al. (2015). Scale for assessing psychosocial stressors in the work context: Construction and evidence of validity (Portuguese). Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 28(2), 340–349. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7153.201528214

[13]Folke, F., and Melin, M. (2022). Selecting flight mode—Risk factors associated with presenteeism among commercial pilots and the role of depressive symptoms. Journal of Air Transport Management, 103, 102254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtdraman.2022.102254

[14]Görlich, Y., and Stadelmann, D. (2020). Mental Health of Flying Cabin Crews: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 581496. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.581496

[15]Griffiths, R. F., and Powell, D. M. C. (2012). The Occupational Health and Safety of Flight Attendants. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 83(5), 514–521. https://doi.org/10.3357/ASEM.3186.2012

[16]Marqueze, E. C., de Sá e Benevides, E. A., Russo, A. C., et al. (2023). Organizational Risk Factors for Aircrew Health: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3401. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043401

[17]Martinussen, M., and Hunter, D. R. (2017). Aviation Psychology and Human Factors, Second Edition. CRC Press.

[18]McNeely, E., Mordukhovich, I., Tideman, S., et al. (2018). Estimating the health consequences of flight attendant work: Comparing flight attendant health to the general population in a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 346. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5221-3

[19]Morris, M. B., Veksler, B. Z., Krusmark, M. A., et al. (2023). Mobility Aircrew Fatigue Perceptions and Mitigation Strategies. Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors, 13(2), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.1027/2192-0923/a000254

[20]Oliveira, G. F. D., Gouveia, V. V., Peixoto, G. P., and Soares, M. A. L. (2010). Factor analysis of the fatigue assessment scale in a sample of university students from a public institution (Portuguese). ID on line: Revista de Psicologia, 4(11), 51. https://doi.org/10.14295/idonline.v4i11.82

[21]Özel, E., and Hacioglu, U. (2021). A critical approach to fatigue risk factors in cockpit and cabin crew for the flight safety in aviation industry. Bussecon Review of Social Sciences (2687–2285), 3(1), 01–19. https://doi.org/10.36096/brss.v3i1.251

[22]Pina, C. S., Berni, L. B., Peixoto, M. J. R., et al. (2022). Trabalho e saúde: Um estudo com comissárias(os) de voo. Trabalho (En)Cena, 7, e022004. https://doi.org/10.20873/2526-1487e022004

[23]Rodrigues, C. M. L., Faiad, C., and Facas, E. P. (2020). Risk Factors and Psychosocial Risks at Work: Definition and Implications (Portuguese). Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 36(spe), e36nspe19. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e36nspe19

[24]Tamakloe, S. A., Amponsah-Tawiah, K., and Mensah, J. (2022). Safety Climate and Psychological Well-Being Among Workers in the Ghanaian Aviation Industry: Does Fatigue Matter. Occupational Health Science, 6(2), 279–293. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-022-00110-2

[25]Valdés, R. M. A., Comendador, V. F. G., Zamarreño, M., et al. (2022). Human Factors Hazards in aviation operating environment during COVID-19. In: 13th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2022). https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1001431

[26]Wingelaar-Jagt, Y. Q., Wingelaar, T. T., Riedel, W. J., and Ramaekers, J. G. (2021). Fatigue in Aviation: Safety Risks, Preventive Strategies and Pharmacological Interventions. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 712628. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.712628

[27]Zhao, Y., Wang, Y., Guo, W., et al. (2023). Studies on the Relationship between Occupational Stress and Mental Health, Performance, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Civil Aviation Pilots. Aerospace, 10(10), 896. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10100896

Published

2024-12-04

How to Cite

Rodrigues, C. M. L., da Cruz Silva, K. E., & Cruz, L. A. G. (2024). Psychosocial risks and occupational health: Fatigue and sleep disturbances among aviation professionals. Applied Psychology Research, 3(2), 1670. https://doi.org/10.59400/apr1670

Download Citation

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Editor-in-Chief

Prof. Giuseppe Lanza

Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Italy

eISSN

3029-276X

Publication Frequency

Semi-annual

About the Publisher

Academic Publishing insists on taking academic exchange and publication as the main line, carrying out comprehensive management based on science and technology, and fully exploring excellent international publishing resources. Within 5 years, it will form a strategic framework and scale with science (S), technology (T), medicine (M), education (E), and humanities and arts (H) as the main publishing fields. Academic Publishing is headquartered in Singapore and based in Malaysia, with the United States and China providing the main scientific and academic resources. At the same time, it has established long-term good cooperative relations with other publishing companies, scientific research communities, and academic organizations in more than a dozen countries and regions. Academic Publishing uses English and Chinese as its main publishing languages, mainly publishing books, journals, and conference papers in print and online. The vast majority of publications follow the international open access policy, providing stable and long-term quality and professional publications. With the joint efforts of the expert team and our professional editorial team, our publications will gradually be indexed by international databases in stages to provide convenient and professional retrieval for various scholars. At the same time, manuscripts we accept will be subject to the peer review principle, and cutting-edge and innovative research articles will be preferentially accepted for peer reference and discussion. All kinds of our publications are welcome for peer to contribute, access, and download.

more

Volume Arrangement

2024

2023

2022

Featured Articles

A comprehensive review (1963–2024) of environmental psychology: Trends, themes, and future directions

Multidisciplinary environmental psychology studies the dynamic link between humans and their natural and manmade settings. This thorough study synthesises 443 works from 1963 to 2024 on topics such as physical surroundings’ effects on behaviour, environmental stressors, pro-environmental behaviour, and applying psychological theories to environmental interactions. This literature is synthesised to identify patterns, themes, and future directions. Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable development have changed the profession. Green areas have been demonstrated to boost mental health and reduce stress. Nature helps mental exhaustion recuperation. Hospitals and workplaces’ design and structure affect health and productivity. Walkable, green urban development improves citizens’ well-being and promotes sustainable living. Environmental stresses including noise, pollution, and overpopulation harm mental and physical health. Children exposed to noise pollution are more likely to develop cardiovascular illness and cognitive deficits. Anxiety and despair caused by climate change are also becoming more apparent. Pro-environmental behaviour is emphasised, with notions like planned behaviour and community-based social marketing working. Behaviour interventions using social norms and feedback have decreased energy and waste. Personal values-driven intrinsic motivation promotes long-term behavioural change better than extrinsic incentive. Environmental psychology uses surveys, experiments, and mixed-methods research. Virtual and augmented reality provide for environmental simulations and psychological studies. Good health and well-being, excellent education, sustainable cities, responsible consumerism, climate action, and living on land are among the field’s major contributions to the UNSDGs. Environmental psychology will help establish sustainable and healthy settings that correspond with the UNSDGs as environmental issues grow.

The impact of the menstrual cycle on emotions and behavior—A review of current research

The menstrual cycle has attracted the interest of many researchers for many years. It is analyzed from many angles, including its impact on mental health. Hormonal changes over the course of the cycle have a very strong impact on the emotions, needs, or pain experienced. Estrogen, secreted shortly before ovulation, influences increased confidence and feelings of attractiveness, which can lead to new relationships. In contrast, progesterone, secreted during the luteal phase, promotes the strengthening of stable relationships, and a large proportion of women may experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) during this time. This publication discusses studies from recent years that have assessed the variability of women’s needs and emerging symptoms during different phases of the cycle. It also summarizes any strategies and practical tips needed to work with women considering their cyclical variability.

Testing social impact and self-attention predictions with live audiences and co-actors

This experiment examined the influences of number of co-actors and audience size on manual dexterity task performance and subjective reactions such as perceived effort and arousal. Predictions derived from social impact theory and the self-attention perspective’s other-total ratio indicated that both number of co-actors and audience size should influence responses. Undergraduate students (N = 128) responded as 1, 2, 4, or 8 group members who were observed in counterbalanced fashion by 1, 2, 4, or 8 audience members for four performance trials. The predictions of increased task performance with larger audience sizes and decreased performance as number of co-actors increased were not supported. Participants’ rated arousal was somewhat consistent with the predictions from the self-attention perspective and social impact theory. Self-reported effort was consistent with the predicted patterns, but not always significantly so. The influence of number of others is moderated by the objective-subjective nature of responses of real co-actors performing in front of live audiences.

Manifesting the academic psychological contract

The level of research undertaken on the academic psychological contract, and its influence on academics’ behaviour is limited. This paper seeks to consider the academic psychological contract, by reviewing its manifestation within the role and the influence on their undertaking of the role. Particularly important is academics’ interpretation of the role and what they consider important. Within this, the paper considers in-role and extra-role activities and what may be the grey areas in which time is spent. The research adopts the combined usage of phenomenology with interpretivist processes to investigate the insights of eighteen academics at nine UK University Business Schools. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data to consider the constructs’ manifestation. Key aspects of behaviour were identified as discretionary effort autonomy and managerialism, with links to academic citizenship.