The mental health of ab-initio pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) is a major health crisis that has affected several nations and the life of millions to date. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of COVID-19 on student pilots. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has been performed on the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental status of ab-initio pilots. As a cross-sectional study, a self-administered 48-item survey was conducted among ab-initio pilots. A total of 108 ab-initio pilots completed the survey. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the mental health of the ab-initio pilots. Independent-samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed to explore contributing factors associated with the presence of depression, stress and anxiety. Based on the findings, 24% of the ab-initio pilots had anxiety on varying levels. 44.2% of the participants were depressed. Varying levels of stress were detected in 45% of the ab-initio pilots. Vulnerability, working conditions, isolation, social and mass media and the lack of job opportunities were factors associated with stress, anxiety and depression among the ab-initio pilots. This study showed that depression, anxiety and stress were prevalent among the ab-initio pilots who were included in the study, and the participants were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health of ab-initio pilots needs the urgent attention of aviation authorities and experts. This study contributes to the current literature on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and may make noteworthy contributions to aviation safety.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• stress
• depression
• ab-initio pilot
• pilot training
• Flight Safety

COVID-19 Pandemi Sürecinde Öğrenci Pilotların Mental Sağlık Durumları

Abstract

Yeni koronavirüs (COVID-19) hastalığı insanların mental sağlık durumlarını olumsuz bir şekilde etkiledi. Bu çalışmanın amacı COVID-19 pandemisinin öğrenci pilotlar üzerindeki etkisinin araştırılmasıdır. COVID-19 pandemisinin öğrenci pilotların mental sağlıkları üzerindeki etkileri hakkında bildiğimiz kadarıyla bugüne kadar bir araştırma yapılmamıştır. 48 ifadeden oluşan bir anket öğrenci pilotlarla kesitsel bir çalışma olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Toplamda 108 öğrenci pilot tarafından anket cevaplandı. Depresyon, Anksiyete ve Stess-21 ölçeği kullanılarak öğrenci pilotların mental sağlıkları değerlendirilmiştir. Depresyon, anksiyete ve stres ile ilgili faktörlerin değerlendirilmesinde bağımsız grup t testi ve tek yönlü anova analizi uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre öğrenci pilotların yüzde yirmi dördü (%24) farklı seviyelerde anksiyeteye, yüzde kırk dört nokta iki (%44.2) oranında farklı seviyelerde depresyon tespit edildi. Katılımcıların yüzde kırk beşinde (%45) ise değişken seviyelerde stres tespit edildi. Vulnerabilite, çalışma koşulları, izolasyon, sosyal medya ve kitle iletişim araçları ve azalan iş imkanları öğrenci pilotlardaki stres, depresyon ve anksiyete ile ilişkili olan faktörler olarak tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışma öğrenci pilotlar arasında depresyon, anksiyete ve stresin yaygın olduğunu göstermekte ve COVID-19 pandemisinden olumsuz bir şekilde etkilendiklerini göstermektedir. Havacılık otoritelerinin ve uzmanlarının öğrenci pilotların mental sağlık durumlarına acilen dikkat vermeleri gerekmektedir. Bu çalışma COVID-19 pandemisinin etkileri hakkındaki literatüre katkı sağlayacaktır ve havacılık emniyetine önemli katkılarda bulunabilir.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• havacılık
• stres
• depresyon
• öğrenci pilot

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