Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.
2000 Sep;10(3):255-265.
Psychological Stress Status and it's related Factor in Pilots
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Inje University.
- 2Surgeon General's Office, Headquarter of Republic of Korea Air Forces.
Abstract
-
BACKGROUND: Pilots should maintain optimal state of physical and psychological well-being for preventing aircraft accidents. Major cause of aircraft accidents was human factors, and physical well-being are closely related to psychological health. Thus, we evaluate psychological stress status of pilots to manage and promote psychological well-being of pilots in Republic of Korea Air Forces.
METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire was designed. It dealt with demographic, medical utilization and health habit variables. The section of psychological stress was the 60-item version of Goldberg's general health questionnaire(GHQ-60). From September 1996 to October 1996, 896 questionnaires were distributed to the pilots. RESULTS: The degree of stress were statistically significant in the age, marital status, educational attainment, annual income, hospital admission, hours of sleep, having breakfast, regular exercise, smoking and alcohol drinking variables; (a) pilots in younger, unmarried, and low-income group had more stress; (b) pilots have hospital admission in a recent month including his family member had more stress; (c) pilots in sleeping 9 and over hours, having breakfast sometimes, no regular exercise, smoking and frequent alcohol drinking group had the highest level of stress. In potential distress group, hospital admission including his family member( adjusted OR = 2.15, 95% CI : 1.15-4.02), lack of sleeping( adjusted OR = 2.78, 95% CI : 1.57-4.94), irregular exercise(adjusted OR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.40-4.18) and frequent alcohol drinking(adjusted OR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.05-7.41) were estimated as risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that we should give a special attention to manage the stress of pilots in younger age and, in potential distress group, pilot had hospital admission including his family member, lack of sleeping, irregular exercise and frequent alcohol drinking in relation to maintain and promote psychological health of pilots in air forces.
