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.
Article Data
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