Factors Affecting the Incidence of Depression in Active Pilots during the COVID-19 Pandemic


Authors

Dasti Anditiarina
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
Artha Budi Susila Duarsa
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
I Made Ady Wirawan
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
Aena Mardiah
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
Alfian Muhajir
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
Dewi Utary
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
Ayu Anulus
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author
Ari Permana Putra
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
~ Author

Abstract

Background: Airlines, aviation organizations, and their employees were largely unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. Most international airlines have stopped flying or are focusing on cargo flights and medical and rescue operations. The COVID-19 crisis has exposed flight crew, relatives, and passengers to high psychological pressure. These stressors can lead to psychological tensions such as anxiety and depression. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the incidence of depression in active pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted online with the assistance of the Aviation Health Center in Indonesia. A total of 29 active pilots were selected for this study. The dependent variable was depression. The independent variables were working period, flying hours, knowledge, and behavior related to COVID-19 prevention. Depression was measured by the DASS-42 questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.

Results: The incidence of pilot depression decreased with good preventive behavior (b= -0.51; 95%CI=-0.83 to -0.19; p= 0.003), and it was statistically significant. The incidence of pilot depression decreased with age >37 years old (b=-0.03; 95%CI=-0.06 to 0.01; p= 0.054), working period ≥1 year (b=-0.01; 95%CI=-0.02 to 0.01; p= 0.293), good knowledge (b=-0.09; 95%CI=-0.46 to 0.27; p= 0.598), but they were statistically not significant. Poor attitude (b= 0.10; 95%CI= -0.46 to 0.67; p= 0.709) increased the incidence of pilot depression, but it was statistically not significant. 

Conclusion: The risk of pilot depression decreases with a good preventive behavior, age >37 years, working period ≥1 year, and good knowledge. The risk of pilot depression increases with poor attitude among pilot.

Keywords: airplane, preventive behavior, depression, COVID-19, pilots.

Correspondence:  Dasti Anditiarina. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar. Jl. Unizar No.20, Turida, Sandubaya, Mataram 83232, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Email: dasprodie­fka@­gmail.com. Mobile: +62 853-3871-8271.

References

ACI (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on the airport business. ACI Advisory Bulletin.

Alaminos-Torres A, Martinez-Lorca M, Sola ISD, Lopez-Ejeda N, Marrodan MD (2022). Psychological distress in Spanish airline pilots during the aviation crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and psychometric analysis of the 12-item general health questionnaire. Ergonomics, 65(5), 741–752. Doi: 10.1080/0014013-9.2021.1984587

Andrade C (2020). The Limitations of Online Surveys. Indian J. Psychol. Med. 42(6), 575–576. Doi: 10.1177/0253717620957496

Barrenetxea J, Pan A, Feng Q, Koh WP (2022). Factors associated with depression across age groups of older adults: The Singapore Chinese health study. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry, 37(2). Doi: 10.1002/gps.5666

Blazer D, Burchett B, Service C, George LK (1991). The Association of Age and Depression Among the Elderly: An Epidemiologic Exploration. J. Gerontol. 46(6), M210–M215. Doi: 10.-1093/geronj/46.6.M210

Budimir S, Probst T, Pieh C (2021). Coping strategies and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown. J Ment Health (Abingdon, England), 30(2), 156–163. Doi: 10.1080/09638237.2021.1875412

Cahill J, Cullen P, Gaynor K (2020). Interventions to support the management of work-related stress (WRS) and wellbeing/-mental health issues for commer-cial pilots. Cognition, Technology &; Work, 22(3), 517–547. Doi: 10.1007/s1011101900586z

Deng J, Zhou F, Hou W, Silver Z, Wong CY, Chang O, Huang E et al. (2021). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1486(1), 90–111. Doi: 10.1111/nyas.14506

EPPSI (2020). COVID-19 crisis and its effect on aviation mental health. European Pilot Peer Support Initiative (EPPSI).

Hettich N, Entringer TM, Kroeger H, Schmidt P, Tibubos AN, Braehler E, Beutel ME (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety, loneliness, and satisfaction in the German gene-ral population: A longitudinal analysis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 57(12): 2481–2490. Doi: 10.1007/s00127-022-02311 0.

Laukkala T, Bor R, Budowle B, Sajan-tila A, Navathe P, Sainio M, Vuo-rio A (2017). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Fatal Accidents in Aviation Medicine. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 88(9), 871–875. Doi: 10.3357/AMHP.4919.2017

Schober P, Vetter TR (2021). Linear Regression in Medical Study. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 132(1), 108–109. Doi: 10.1213/ANE.000-0000000005206

Sykes AJ, Larsen PD, Griffiths RF, Aldington S (2012). A study of airline pilot morbidity. Aviation Space Environment Med. 83(10), 1001–1005. https://doi.org/10.3-357/asem.3380.2012.

Tan BYQ, Chew NWS, Lee GKH, Jing, M, Goh Y, Yeo LLL, Zhang K, et al. (2020). Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers in Singa-pore. Ann. Intern. Med. (Vol. 173, Issue 4, pp. 317–320). Doi: 10.7326/M20-1083

Wilson D, Driller M, Winwood P, Johnston B, Gill N (2021). The Effects of a Brief Lifestyle Inter-vention on the Health of Over-weight Airline Pilots during COVID-19: A 12 Month Follow-Up Study. Nutrients, 13(12). Doi: 10.3390/nu13124288

Wu AC, Donnelly-McLay D, Weisskopf MG, McNeely E, Betancourt TS, Allen JG (2016). Airplane pilot mental health and suicidal thoughts: a cross-sectional descriptive study via anonymous web-based survey. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source, 15(1), 121. Doi: 10.-1186/s1294001602006

Zhong BL, Luo W, Li HM, Zhang QQ, Liu XG, Li WT, Li Y (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: A quick online cross-sectional survey. Int J Biol Sci. 16(10), 1745–1752. Doi: 10.-7150/ijbs.45221

Zhu C, Zhang T, Li Q, Chen X, Wang K (2023). Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiology, Mechanism, and Treatment. Neuroscience Bulletin, 39(4), 675–684. Doi: 10.1007/s12264-022-00970-2.

How to Cite

Factors Affecting the Incidence of Depression in Active Pilots during the COVID-19 Pandemic. (2023). The International Conference on Public Health Proceeding, 8(01), 119-125. https://doi.org/10.26911/ICPH10/fullpaper/2023.01