Determining the Causes of Mental Health Issues in Airline Pilots: The Role of Working Conditions and Workload in Predictive Models

TL;DR

This study finds that 10% of airline pilots show signs of depression, with work conditions being a key factor in their mental health.

Contribution

The study identifies psychosocial and ambient work conditions as significant predictors of depression in airline pilots.

Findings

10.4% of pilots showed signs of major depressive disorders.

Psychosocial and indoor ambient conditions significantly predicted PHQ-9 scores.

Gender, age, and flight hours were not significantly linked to depression.

Abstract

The mental health of airline pilots is critical to the safety of air travel. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive disorders among airline pilots and the influence of various work-related factors on their mental health. We conducted a web-based survey from January 2022 to January 2023, collecting data from 277 airline pilots using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to screen for depressive disorders. Our findings reveal that 29 pilots (10.4%) showed signs of major depressive disorders, and nine pilots (3.2%) reported suicidal thoughts during the past two weeks. We built linear regression models in which psychosocial working conditions and indoor ambient conditions were significant predictors of the PHQ-9 score. Gender, age, flight hours, additional duties, and self-rated performance were not significantly associated with the PHQ-9 score. The study highlights the need for improved working conditions, including job security, a balanced workload, and opportunities to influence working conditions. Mental health support programs could lower the threshold for seeking medical help, thus improving flight safety.

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