The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Job Performance Among Air Traffic Controllers: The Role of Decision-Making

Year 2025, Issue: 98, 76 - 91, 11.07.2025

Seda Çeken , Arif Tuncal

https://doi.org/10.26650/imj.2025.98.1660726

Abstract

This study examines the effect of air traffic controllers’ mindfulness levels on job performance and explores the mediating role of decision-making perception in this effect. The study, conducted with 421 air traffic controllers from different operational units and professional experience levels throughout Türkiye, used an online survey method. The data collection tools included the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Decision-Making Styles Scale, and the Job Performance Scale. Demographic characteristics of the participants, such as gender, education level, professional experience, and the unit they work in were also analyzed. Findings indicated that mindfulness levels positively affect decision-making perception (β= .288) and job performance (β= .379). The mediation analysis revealed that decision-making perception significantly strengthens the relationship between mindfulness and job performance (β = .047; 95% BCA CI [.011, .047]). These findings highlight that mindfulness plays a critical role in enhancing job performance through its positive impact on decision-making processes. The study presents the practical contributions of mindfulness-based interventions to improve air traffic control performance by revealing that decisionmaking perception is a critical mediating variable in the context of the mindfulness-job performance relationship.

Keywords

Air traffic control , Aviation , Decision-making , Job performance , Mindfulness

Ethical Statement

This study involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the Istanbul University Research Ethics Committee (IUREC 404/2024). The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

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