Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience

Seda Çeken

doi:10.54733/smar.1873258

TR EN

Hava Aracı Bakımında İnsan Faktörleri: Mesleki Motivasyon, İşe Yabancılaşma ve Akış Deneyimi Arasındaki İlişki

Öz

Günümüz havacılık bakım ortamları, artan filo büyüklüğü, yoğun operasyonel tempo ve hataya yönelik son derece düşük tolerans nedeniyle hava aracı bakım teknisyenleri üzerinde önemli bilişsel ve psikolojik talepler oluşturmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, bakım personelinin insan performansını şekillendiren psikolojik ve motivasyonel süreçlerin anlaşılması, uçuş emniyetinin sürdürülebilirliği açısından kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışma, hava aracı bakım teknisyenlerinde işe yabancılaşma, mesleki motivasyon ve işle ilişkili akış deneyimi arasındaki ilişkileri bütüncül bir model çerçevesinde incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, 207 hava aracı bakım teknisyeninden elde edilen verilerle yürütülmüştür. Betimsel ve korelasyonel analizler IBM SPSS Statistics (sürüm 31) kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Önerilen araştırma modeli, Jamovi (sürüm 2.7.6) yazılımının SEM modülü aracılığıyla ve R ortamında çalışan lavaan paketi kullanılarak yapısal eşitlik modellemesi (SEM) ile test edilmiştir. Mesleki motivasyonun aracı rolü, bootstrap yeniden örnekleme yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, işe yabancılaşmanın mesleki motivasyon ve işle ilişkili akış deneyimi üzerinde anlamlı ve negatif bir etkiye sahip olduğunu; buna karşılık mesleki motivasyonun, işle ilişkili akış deneyimini pozitif yönde yordadığını göstermektedir. Aracılık analizleri, mesleki motivasyonun, işe yabancılaşma ile işle ilişkili akış arasındaki ilişkide kısmi aracı rol oynadığını ortaya koymuştur. Sonuçlar, bakım ortamlarında insan performansının yalnızca teknik yeterlilik ve hata yönetimi perspektifinden değil, aynı zamanda motivasyon ve psikolojik bağlılık süreçleri de dikkate alınarak değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

işe yabancılaşma, mesleki motivasyon, akış deneyimi, havacılık, hava aracı bakım

Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience

Öz

Today's aviation maintenance environments place significant cognitive and psychological demands on aircraft maintenance technicians due to increasing fleet size, intense operational pace, and extremely low tolerance for error. In this context, understanding the psychological and motivational processes that shape the human performance of maintenance personnel is critical for the sustainability of flight safety. This study aims to examine the relationships between work alienation, occupational motivation, and work-related flow in aircraft maintenance technicians within a holistic model framework. The research was conducted using data from 207 aircraft maintenance technicians. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 31). The proposed research model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) via the SEM module of Jamovi (version 2.7.6) software and the lavaan package running in the R environment. The mediating role of occupational motivation was evaluated using the bootstrap resampling method. The findings show that work alienation significantly and negatively affects occupational motivation and work-related flow experience; while occupational motivation positively predicts work-related flow. The results indicate that human performance in maintenance settings should be considered not only from the perspective of technical competence and error management, but also by taking into account motivation and psychological attachment processes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

work alienation, occupational motivation, work-related flow, aviation, aircraft maintenance

Kaynakça

Bakker, A. B. (2005). Flow among music teachers and their students: The crossover of peak experiences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66(1), 26-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2003.11.001
Bakker, A. B. (2008). The work-related flow inventory: Construction and initial validation of the WOLF. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72(3), 400-414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2007.11.007
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273-285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056
Bakker, A. B., Oerlemans, W., Demerouti, E., Slot, B. B., & Ali, D. K. (2011). Flow and performance: A study among talented Dutch soccer players. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12(4), 442-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.02.003
Banai, M., & Reisel, W. D. (2007). The influence of supportive leadership and job characteristics on work alienation: A six-country investigation. Journal of World Business, 42(4), 463-476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2007.06.007
Bandhu, D., Mohan, M. M., Nittala, N. A. P., Jadhav, P., Bhadauria, A., & Saxena, K. K. (2024). Theories of motivation: A comprehensive analysis of human behavior drivers. Acta Psychologica, 244, 104177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104177
Bartholomeyczik, K., Knierim, M. T., & Weinhardt, C. (2023). Fostering flow experiences at work: A framework and research agenda for developing flow interventions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1143654. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1143654.
Blauner, R. (1964). Alienation and freedom: The factory worker and his industry. The University of Chicago Press
Boeing. (2025). Pilot and technician outlook 2025-2044. https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/v2/products/pilot-technician-outlook/pdf/2025-pto-download.pdf (Accessed Date: 20 January 2026).
Chen, G., & Kanfer, R. (2006). Toward a systems theory of motivated behavior in work teams. Research in Organizational Behavior, 27, 223-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-3085(06)27006-0

Chen, K. H., & Ye, Y. (2023). Is your working life good? Alienation in the nexus between job characteristics and organizational citizenship behavior of hospitality frontline employees. Tourism Review, 79(1), 133-151. https://doi.org/10.1108/tr-09-2022-0427
Chiaburu, D. S., Thundiyil, T., & Wang, J. (2014). Alienation and its correlates: A meta-analysis. European Management Journal, 32(1), 24-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2013.06.003
Conway, E., Monks, K., Fu, N., Alfes, K., & Bailey, K. (2020). Reimagining alienation within a relational framework: Evidence from the public sector in Ireland and the UK. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(21), 2673- 2694. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2018.1460859
Costanza, D., Prentice, B., Poitras, M., Bardygula, O., Fasano, B., Sargent, S., Hayes, L., & Franzoni, C. (2022). Not enough aviation mechanics: How the industry can address this decade’s shortage in aircraft maintenance workers. Oliver Wyman. https://arsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OW-2023WorkforceAnalysis-Technicians.pdf (Accessed Date: 19 January 2026).
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.
Deci, E. L., Olafsen, A. H., & Ryan, R. M. (2017). Self-determination theory in work organizations: The state of a science. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4, 19-43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032516-113108
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 499-512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499
Dervişoğulları, M., & Deniz, L. (2019). İşle ilgili akış ölçeğinin Türkçeye uyarlanması. M. Üce ve A. F. Levent (Ed.), 2. Uluslararası Eğitimde Yeni Arayışlar Kongresi tam metin bildiri kitabı içinde (ss. 496-509). Marmara Üniversitesi Yayınevi.
Duarte, H., & Lopes, D. (2018). Career stages and occupations impacts on workers motivations. International Journal of Manpower, 39(5), 746-763. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-02-2017-0026
Engeser, S., & Rheinberg, F. (2008). Flow, performance and moderators of challenge-skill balance. Motivation and Emotion, 32(3), 158-172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-008-9102-4
European Union Aviation Safety Agency. (2025). Annual safety review 2025 (Catalogue No. TO-01-25-001-EN-N). https://doi.org/10.2822/7481215
Federal Aviation Administration. (n.d.). Human factors guide for aviation maintenance and inspection. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/about/initiatives/maintenance_hf/training_tools/HF_Guide.pdf (Accessed Date: 20 January 2026).
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
Fullagar, C. J., & Kelloway, E. K. (2009). Flow at work: An experience sampling approach. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 82(3), 595-615. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317908X357903
Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005). Self-determination theory and work motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(4), 331-362. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.322
Grant, A., & Shandell, M. (2022). Social motivation at work: The organizational psychology of effort for, against, and with others. Annual Review of Psychology, 73, 301-326. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-060321-033406
Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
Hattie, J., Hodis, F. A., & Kang, S. H. K. (2020). Theories of motivation: Integration and ways forward. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 101865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101865
Hobbs, A. (2008). An overview of human factors in aviation maintenance (Report No. AR-2008-055). Australian Transport Safety Bureau. https://www.faasafety.gov/files/gslac/courses/content/817/2315/AR%202008-55%20Human%20Factors%20Alan%20Hobbs.pdf (Accessed Date: 20 January 2026).
Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513-524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.44.3.513
Howard, J. L., Gagné, M., Morin, A. J., & Forest, J. (2018). Using bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling to test for a continuum structure of motivation. Journal of Management, 44(7), 2638-2664. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316645653
Howard, J. L., Morin, A. J. S., & Gagné, M. (2020). A longitudinal analysis of motivation profiles at work. Motivation and Emotion, 45(1), 39-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-020-09852-4
International Civil Aviation Organization. (2025). State of global aviation safety: ICAO safety report 2025 edition. https://www.icao.int/sites/default/files/sp-files/safety/Documents/ICAO_SR_2025.pdf (Accessed Date: 19 January 2026).
Kanfer, R., Frese, M., & Johnson, R. E. (2017). Motivation related to work: A century of progress. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 338-355. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000133
Kartal, N. (2018). Evaluating the relationship between work engagement, work alienation and work performance of healthcare professionals. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 11(3), 251-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/20479700.2018.1453969
Khan, M. A. S., Jianguo, D., Mann, A., Saleem, S., Boamah, K. B., Javed, U., & Usman, M. (2019). Rejuvenating the concept of work alienation through job demands-resources model and examining its relationship with emotional exhaustion and explorative and exploitative learning. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 12, 931-941. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S204193
Klaeijsen, A., Vermeulen, M., & Martens, R. (2018). Teachers’ innovative behaviour: The importance of basic psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and occupational self-efficacy. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 62(5), 769-782. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2017.1306803
Latham, G. P., & Pinder, C. C. (2005). Work motivation theory and research at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Annual Review of Psychology, 56, 485-516. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.142105
Lee, S., Yang, X., Kim, J., & Byun, G. (2022). Effects of motivational climate on knowledge hiding: The mediating role of work alienation. Behavioral Sciences, 12(3), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12030081
Liu, J., Carminati, L., & Wilderom, C. (2025). Work alienation through the dialectical lens. Applied Psychology, 74(1), e12600. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12600
Liu, W., Lu, H., Li, P., van der Linden, D., & Bakker, A. B. (2023). Antecedents and outcomes of work-related flow: A meta-analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 144, 103891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103891
Malhotra, N. K., & Dash, S. (2011). Marketing research: An applied orientation (6th ed.). Pearson Education.
Moneta, G. B. (2012). On the measurement and conceptualization of flow. In S. Engeser (Ed.), Advances in flow research (pp. 23–50). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2359-1_2
Nair, N., & Vohra, N. (2009). Developing a new measure of work alienation. Journal of Workplace Rights, 14(3), 293-309. https://doi.org/10.2190/WR.14.3.c
Nair, N., & Vohra, N. (2010). An exploration of factors predicting work alienation of knowledge workers. Management Decision, 48(4), 600-615. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741011041373
Øversveen, E. (2022). Capitalism and alienation: Towards a Marxist theory of alienation for the 21st century. European Journal of Social Theory, 25(3), 440-457. https://doi.org/10.1177/13684310211021579
Radeva, S. (2019). Theoretical fundamentals of occupational motivation. Knowledge International Journal, 31(5), 1621-1624.
Ranjan, S., & Kumar, P. (2025). How workplace incivility drives work alienation: An explanatory model. Journal of Informatics Education and Research, 5(3), 651-669. https://doi.org/10.52783/jier.v5i3.3274
Rosseel, Y. (2012). lavaan: An R package for structural equation modeling. Journal of Statistical Software, 48(1), 1-36. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v048.i02
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Salanova, M., Bakker, A. B., & Llorens, S. (2006). Flow at work: Evidence for an upward spiral of personal and organizational resources. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-005-8854-8
Sarros, J. C., Tanewski, G. A., Winter, R. P., Santora, J. C., & Densten, I. L. (2002). Work alienation and organizational leadership. British Journal of Management, 13(4), 285-304. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00247
Sawyer, J. E., & Gampa, A. (2020). Work alienation and its gravediggers: Social class, class consciousness, and activism. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 8(1), 198-219. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v8i1.1132
Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Van Rhenen, W. (2009). How changes in job demands and resources predict burnout, work engagement, and sickness absenteeism. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30(7), 893-917. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.595
Sebit, D. W. (2024). Relevance of traditional motivation theories in current times. International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, 8(5), 1-40. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsrem34254
Shantz, A., Alfes, K., Bailey, C., & Soane, E. (2015). Drivers and outcomes of work alienation: Reviving a concept. Journal of Management Inquiry, 24(4), 382-393. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492615573325
Shaw, B. (2024). Global MRO Industry Outlook for 2025. STS Aviation Group. https://www.stsaviationgroup.com/global-mro-industry-outlook-for-2025/ (Accessed Date: 20 January 2026).
Shinde, S. (2025). Unmasking organizational alienation: A multidimensional analysis of its impact on employee engagement in the modern workplace. Kaav International Journal of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, 12(1), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.52458/23484349.2025.v12.iss1.kp.a4
Tummers, L. G., & Dulk, L. D. (2013). The effects of work alienation on organisational commitment, work effort and work-to-family enrichment. Journal of Nursing Management, 21(6), 850-859. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12159
Tuygun Toklu, A. (2016). Çalışanlarda iş sağlığı ve güvenliği uygulamalarının örgütsel bağlılık, işe yabancılaşma ve iş performansına olan etkisinin incelenmesi [Doktora tezi]. Gebze Teknik Üniversitesi.
Ural, O. (2007). Türkiye’de yetişkin eğitiminin bugünkü durumu ve geleceği. M. Altıntaş (Ed.), Öğrenen toplum için yetişkin eğitimi sempozyumu bildirileri içinde (pp. 12-42). İSMEK Yayınları.
Urs, G. B., & Thoti, K. K. (2025). Impact of workplace alienation on managers and engineers. Indian Journal of Management and Language, 5(1), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.54105/ijml.b2092.05010425
Van den Broeck, A., Carpini, J. A., & Diefendorff, J. M. (2019). Work motivation: Where do the different perspectives lead us? In R. M. Ryan (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of human motivation (2nd ed., pp. 507-524). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190666453.013.27.
Van den Broeck, A., Ferris, D. L., Chang, C. H., & Rosen, C. C. (2016). A review of self-determination theory’s basic psychological needs at work. Journal of Management, 42(5), 1195-1229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316632058

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Örgütsel Davranış

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yazarlar

Seda Çeken ^*
0000-0002-5870-2246
Türkiye

Yayımlanma Tarihi

25 Eylül 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

27 Ocak 2026

Kabul Tarihi

21 Mayıs 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Cilt: 7 Sayı: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1873258

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA55LZ23DA

APA

Çeken, S. (2026). Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review, 7(4), 535-558. https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1873258

AMA

1.Çeken S. Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience. SMAR. 2026;7(4):535-558. doi:10.54733/smar.1873258

Chicago

Çeken, Seda. 2026. “Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience”. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review 7 (4): 535-58. https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1873258.

EndNote

Çeken S (01 Eylül 2026) Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review 7 4 535–558.

IEEE

[1]S. Çeken, “Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience”, SMAR, c. 7, sy 4, ss. 535–558, Eyl. 2026, doi: 10.54733/smar.1873258.

ISNAD

Çeken, Seda. “Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience”. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review 7/4 (01 Eylül 2026): 535-558. https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1873258.

JAMA

1.Çeken S. Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience. SMAR. 2026;7:535–558.

MLA

Çeken, Seda. “Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience”. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review, c. 7, sy 4, Eylül 2026, ss. 535-58, doi:10.54733/smar.1873258.

Vancouver

1.Seda Çeken. Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience. SMAR. 01 Eylül 2026;7(4):535-58. doi:10.54733/smar.1873258

Bu dergide yayımlanan makaleler Creative Commons Atıf-GayrıTicari 4.0 Uluslararası (CC BY-NC 4.0) Lisansı ile lisanslanmıştır.

Hava Aracı Bakımında İnsan Faktörleri: Mesleki Motivasyon, İşe Yabancılaşma ve Akış Deneyimi Arasındaki İlişki

Öz

Anahtar Kelimeler

Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance: Linking Occupational Motivation, Work Alienation, and Flow Experience

Öz

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kaynakça

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

Konular

Bölüm

Yazarlar

Yayımlanma Tarihi

Gönderilme Tarihi

Kabul Tarihi

Yayımlandığı Sayı

DOI

IZ

Kaynak Göster