Investigation of pilots mental health and analysis of influencing factors in China

Yu et al. BMC Public Health (2022) 22:1352

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13764-y

RESEARCH

Investigation of pilots’ mental health

and analysis of infuencing factors in China:

based on structural equation model

Feifei Yu, Xuxia Li and Jishun Yang*

Abstract

Background: Pilots’ physical and mental health might be signifcant contributing factors to fight safety. Exploring

pilots’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is crucial for aviation security, health management, and psychological

security. This study aimed to explore HRQoL and mental health of pilots and analyze the health characteristics and

infuencing factors, such as demographic data, personality traits, social support, and resilience. It may provide data for

a theoretical basis for aviation security work and health management strategy.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using quantitative approaches. Two hundred twenty male pilots with an

average age of 33.31 years participated. They answered a social demographic questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90,

Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire, Perceived social support scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, and Big

Five Personality Inventories, whose data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The mediating efect of personality factors between resilience and the HRQoL of pilots was observed. Per￾sonality factors also mediated the relationship between social support and the mental health of pilots.

Conclusion: Pilots’ mental health and quality of life need to be taken seriously. Social support, resilience, and person￾ality factors afect pilots’ mental health and quality of life.

Keywords: Infuencing factors, Health-related quality of life, Physical health, Mental health, Pilot

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Introduction

Pilots’ physical and mental health are signifcant factors

for fight safety. Te medical ftness of pilots is part of the

civil aviation safety scenery, and psychological state is

essential for fight safety [1, 2]. Stricter requirements for

pilots’ physical and psychological functions of pilots are

necessary. For example, a survey of professional pilots’

health and well-being analyzed by Marion Venus found

that signifcant psychosocial stress was associated with

pilots’ jobs and livelihood [3]. Meanwhile, an investiga￾tion done in Germany detected acute efects on fatigue,

workload, recovery, and performance after consecutive

short-haul operations [4]. Terefore, exploring factors

afecting pilots’ physical and mental health has become

critical for aviation security, health management, and

psychological security.

Resilience is the ability to save, recover and even

improve oneself after facing adversity and some over￾whelming disasters and may be closely associated with

mental health [5]. It allows one to bounce back from

adverse life events and function normally, using self￾regulation and cognitive coping skills when faced with

stressful situations to reduce the deleterious efects on

the individual and maintain their well-being. However,

interpersonal and contextual factors, for example, the

characteristics of the environment, could moderate the

Open Access

*Correspondence: [email protected]

PLA Naval Medical Center, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical

University), Yangpu District, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China