Flight operations and emotions management:
the impact of emotional intelligence on pilots
Operazioni di volo e gestione delle emozioni:
l’impatto dell’Intelligenza Emotiva sui piloti
Micaela Scialanga (1), Marco Zuin (2), Martina Tinè (1)(2)
(1) IT-APA Italia– Associazione Psicologia Aviazione
(2) Area di Psicologia Istituto Universitario IUSVE – Venezia
CLICK HERE TO DISPLAY THE POSTER
La grande partecipazione ed il grande eco del primo Convegno internazionale organizzato da IT-APA a Roma lo scorso maggio, ha evidenziato l’interesse della comunità professionale degli psicologi dell’aviazione a rafforzare la presenza e l’impatto della psicologia nel settore aeronautico.
L’area di Psicologia dell’Istituto Universitario IUSVE e IT-APA hanno collaborato a questa ricerca, consapevoli del ruolo della psicologia nella sicurezza delle operazioni e nella salute mentale di coloro che operano nel trasporto aereo.
Il focus del nostro progetto è l’individuo, il quale come pilota è chiamato a gestire un numero elevatissimo di variabili in un ambiente complesso e mutabile in tempi talvolta estremamente rapidi. Lo studio ha mirato a raccogliere dati che potessero permettere in futuro di creare contesti maggiormente adatti ai piloti, nei quali possano essere supportati nel riconoscere le loro individualità e potenzialità.
L’obiettivo specifico è stato quello di osservare l’impatto dell’Intelligenza Emotiva e di come potesse influenzare la gestione delle emozioni e l’atteggiamento al rischio nel personale navigante tecnico.
L’Intelligenza Emotiva è cruciale per il successo e coinvolge la consapevolezza e il controllo delle emozioni, la motivazione e la gestione delle relazioni sociali. Sebbene pochi, studi precedenti in aviazione hanno evidenziato il ruolo chiave delle emozioni sulla performance. Sembra che il mancato riconoscimento delle proprie emozioni possa aumentare l’assunzione di comportamenti rischiosi nel tentativo di ridurre il vissuto emotivo negativo (Luciani et. al., 2022).
Il nostro progetto ha mirato a comprendere l’unicità dell’essere un pilota. Quello dell’aviazione, è un campo di attività che, seppur connaturato dalla tecnologia, deve rimanere assolutamente centrato sull’umano.
Partecipazione alla ricerca e strumenti utilizzati
La presente ricerca si è resa possibile grazie all’interesse e disponibilità di Air Dolomiti, e l’accesso al link (Google Moduli) per la compilazione del questionario è pertanto stato riservato ai piloti della compagnia.
Il Survey è stato proposto interamente in lingua inglese e ha previsto domande chiuse su una scala a 4/5/7 punti; non sono state previste domande aperte.
Un primo modulo ha raccolto dati demografici generali. I moduli successivi rhanno raccolto informazioni su Intelligenza Emotiva, regolazione emotiva, attitudine al rischio e strategie di coping.
Il tempo di compilazione stimato è stato di 15-20’ circa.
Per informazioni su campione e risultati, a seguire il testo integrale del poster presentato alla 35esima Conferenza EAAP – Atene 2024.
Per ogni citazione inserire quanto segue:
Scialanga M., Zuin M., and Tinè M. (2024, September).
Flight operations and emotions management:
the impact of emotional intelligence on pilots
Poster presented at 35th EAAP Conference Athens
For any citations, insert the following:
Scialanga M., Zuin M., and Tinè M. (2024, September). Flight operations and emotions management: the impact of emotional intelligence on pilots. Poster presented at 35th EAAP Conference (European Association for Aviation Psychology), Athens 2024.)
INTRODUCTION
The focus of this research is that pilots as individuals are called upon to rapidly manage many variables in a complex and changeable environment. This study aims to collect data that will create a more suitable environment for the pilots in which they can be efficiently supported in recognizing their individuality and potential.
The subject of our study is Emotional Intelligence which is crucial for the success in life and involves awareness and control of emotions, motivation and management of social relationships.
Our project aims to comprehend the uniqueness of being a pilot: the aviation field, although inherently technological, must remain under human-control.
This project was developed by IT-APA (Italian Aviation Psychology Association) and IUSVE (Salesian University Institute Venice), with the support of Air Dolomiti, and it has been approved by Ethics Committee, Clinical Psychology Department IUSVE-Venezia.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The specific objective of this research is to observe the impact of Emotional Intelligence on pilots and how it can influence the management of their emotions and Risk Orientation in technical flight crew.
The research hypothesis was based on a recent study conducted by Italian researchers (Luciani et. al., 2022) where the lack of recognition of a pilot’s emotions seems to increase the adoption of risk taking attitudes in order to reduce negative emotional experiences.
From the latter, we hypothesized that Emotional Intelligence could act as a mediator between the difficulty in regulation strategies and the subject’s final emotional response (Zuin & Pellizzari, 2023).
METHOD
- Air Dolomiti pilots have been invited to file an online questionnaire (Lime Survey)
Participation in research was voluntary and anonymous
- We collected 124 questionnaires= 45,9% of Air Dolomiti pilots
- A multiple-choice questionnaire was developed in 6 sessions:
1 Biographical data (age, gender and flying experience)
2 (DERS-18) Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Victor & Klonsky, 2016)
3 (ERQ) Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (Gross, 1998; Gross & John, 2003)
4 (TEIQue-SF) Trait Emotional Intelligence – Short Form (Petrides & Furnham, 2006)
5 (Brief-COPE) Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Carver, 1997; Monzani et al., 2015)
6 (ASAS) Aviation Safety Attitude Scale (Hunter, 1995)
- Data was collected from 1st March to 30th June 2024
- Data was analyzed through Linear correlations, multiple linear regression, and mediated regression
RESULTS:
MEDIATION ANALYSIS WITH REGRESSION: Total score of Emotional Dysregulation (DERS) was set as independent variable, Self Confidence (ASAS_SC) as dependent variable and Emotional Intelligence (TEI_SF) as mediator. The analyzed relationship presents the following results: an indirect effect with Emotional Intelligence (TEI_SF) as a mediator (β= -0.233; p= 0.006). The percentage of mediation of the effect is 69.8%.The direct effect of difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) on Self Confidence (ASAS_SC), once the mediating variable (TEI_SF) is added, is no longer significant (β= -0.101; p= 0.399). This confirms the presence of a fully mediated model.
MULTIPLE REGRESSION MODEL: Based on previous studies, a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with Risk Orientation (ASAS_RO) as the dependent variable and Years Experience, Total Flight Hours, and Emotional Intelligence (TEI_SF) as independent variables. The result of the multiple regression analysis highlights that Emotional Intelligence is a significant predictor (β= -0.272; p= 0.002).
CORRELATION ANALYSIS 1: The correlation analysis reveals a strong relationship. Furthermore, the positive correlation between TEI_SF and ASAS_SC aligns with the reference theory: high emotional intelligence scores correspond to high Self Confidence scores and vice versa. The negative correlations between DERS and TEI_SF, and DERS and ASAS_SF, also align with the reference theories: high DERS scores are associated with low Emotional Intelligence and Self Confidence scores and vice versa. The DERS score is positively correlated with Risk Orientation, meaning high DERS scores are associated with high Risk Orientation scores and vice versa.
Finally, TEI_SF is negatively correlated with Risk Orientation, meaning high emotional intelligence scores are associated with low Risk Orientation scores and vice versa.
CORRELATION ANALYSIS 2: The correlations between the pilots’ age, flight hours, and years of experience with the variables ASAS_SC (Self Confidence), ASAS_RO (Risk Orientation), DERS (Dysregulation), and TEI_SF (Emotional Intelligence) were analyzed. None of these variables (age, flight hours, and years of experience) are correlated with the instruments (ASAS_SC, ASAS_RO, DERS, and TEI_SF). ADDITIONAL EVALUATIONS: The Safety Orientation scale was not used as its reliability was close to an of 0.200. Risk Orientation scale, presenting an α alfa value > 0.5, was used as a potentially adequate indicator.
For any information contact: micaela.scialanga@itapa.it
Riferimenti bibliografici / Approfondimenti
Berlin, J. I., Gruber, E. V., Holmes, C. W., Jensen, P. K., Lau, J. R., & Mills, J. W. (1982). Pilot judgment training and evaluation—Vol. 1 (Rep. No. DOT/FAA/CT-81/56-I). Washington, DC: Federal Aviation Administration.
Bongelli R, Fermani A, Canestrari C, Riccioni I, Muzi M, Bertolazzi A, et al. (2022) Italian validation of the situational Brief Cope Scale (I-Brief Cope). PLoS ONE 17(12): e0278486. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278486
Carver, C. S. (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol’ too long: consider the brief cope. Int. J. Behav. Med. 4, 92–100.
doi: 10.1207/15327558ijbm0401_6
Cooper, L., Caddick, N., Godier, L., Cooper, A., and Fossey, M. (2016). Transition from the military into civilian life. Armed Forces Soc. 44, 156–177. doi: 10.1177/0095327×16675965
De Voogt, A. J., and Van Doorn, R. R. A. (2010). Sports aviation accidents: fatality and aircraft specificity. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 81, 1033–1036. doi: 10.3357/asem.2603.2010
Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N., Santos, R., and Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion 7, 336–353. doi: 10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.336
Folkman, S. (1984). Personal control and stress and coping processes: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46(4), 839-852. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.46.4.839
Gable, P., and Harmon-Jones, E. (2010). The motivational dimensional model of affect: implications for breadth of attention, memory, and cognitive categorisation. Cognition and Emotion, 24, 322–337. doi: 10.1080/02699930903378305
Gross, J. J. (1998). The Emerging Field of Emotion Regulation: An Integrative Review. Review of General Psychology, 2 (3), pp. 271-299.
https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.271
Gross, J. J. & John, P. O. (2003). Individual Differences in Two Emotion Regulation Processes: Implications for Affect, Relationships, and Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85 (2), 348-362. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348.
Hong, S.-J., Lee, K.-S., Seol, E.-S., and Young, S. (2016). Safety perceptions of training pilots based on training institution and experience. J. Air Transp. Manag. 55, 213–221. doi: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2016.05.010
Hunter, D. R. (1995). Airman research questionnaire: Methodology and overall results. Washington DC: Federal Aviation Administration (DOT/ FAA/AM-95/27).
Hunter, D. R. (2002). Risk perception and risk tolerance in aircraft pilots. Washington DC: Federal Aviation Administration.
Hunter, D. R. (2005). Measurement of hazardous attitudes among pilots. Int. J. Aviat. Psychol. 15, 23–43. doi: 10.1207/s15327108ijap1501_2
Lazarus, R. S. (1974). Psychological Stress and Coping in Adaptation and Illness. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 5(4), 321–333. doi:10.2190/t43t-84p3-qdur-7rtp
Lazarus R.S. & Folkman S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping, New York, Springer.
Lee, C., An, M., and Noh, Y. (2015). The effects of emotional display rules on flight attendants’ emotional la bor strategy, job burnout and performance. Serv. Bus. 9, 409–425. doi: 10.1007/s11628-014-0231-4
Levitt, J. T., Brown, T. A., Orsillo, S. M., and Barlow, D. H. (2004). The effects of acceptance versus suppression of emotion on subjective and psychophysiological response to carbon dioxide challenge in patients with panic disorder. Behav.Ther. 35, 747–766.
doi: 10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80018-2
Luciani, F., Veneziani, G., Ciacchella, C., Rocchi, G., Reho, M., Gennaro, A. and Lai, C. (2022).
Safety at high altitude: the importance of emotional dysregulation on pilots’ risk attitudes during flight.
Front Psychol 13:1042283. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg 2022.1042283
Jeon, A. (2016). The effect of pre-flight attendants’ emotional intelligence, emotional labor, and emotional exhaustion on commitment to customer service. Serv. Bus. 10, 345–367. doi: 10.1007/s11628-015-0273-2
Kaminska, A., Irwin, A., Ray, D., and Flin, R. (2021). Pilot is a pilot is a pilot?: exploration of effects of professional culture in helicopter pilots”, in Proceedings of the 21st congress of the international ergonomics association (IEA 2021), Springer, 682–690.
McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist, 52(5), 509–516.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.52.5.509
Monzani, D., Steca, P., Greco, A., D’Addario, M., Cappelletti, E., and Pancani, L. (2015). The situational version of the brief COPE: dimensionality and relationships with goal- related variables. Eur. J. Psychol. 11, 295–310. doi: 10.5964/ejop.v11i2.935
Pagán, B. J., De Voogt, A. J., and Van Doorn, R. R. A. (2006). Ultralight aviation accident factors and latent failures: a 66-case study. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 77, 950–952.
Petrides, K. V., & Furnham, A. (2001). Trait emotional intelligence: Psychometric investigation with reference to established trait taxonomies. European Journal of Personality, 15, 425–448. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.416.
Petrides, K. V., Pita, R., & Kokkinaki, F. (2007). The Location of Trait Emotional Intelligence in Personality Factor Space. British Journal of Psychology, 98, 273-289. https://doi.org/10.1348/000712606X120618
Poulus, D., Coulter, T. J., Trotter, M. G., & Polman, R. (2020). Stress and Coping in Esports and the Influence of Mental Toughness. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00628
Salovey P. and Mayer JD. (1990). Emotional Intelligence. Imagination Cogn Pers, 9: 185-211
Victor, S. E., and Klonsky, E. D. (2016). Validation of a brief version of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS-18) in five samples. J. Psychopathol. Behav. Assess. 38, 582–589.
doi: 10.1007/s10862-016-9547-9
Weiss, N. H., Sullivan, T. P., and Tull, M. T. (2015). Explicating the role of emotion dysregulation in risky behaviors: a review and synthesis of the literature with directions for future research and clinical practice. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 3, 22–29.
doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.01.013
Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
Zuin, M. and Pellizzari, C., Relationship between emotional regulation, emotional intelligence and emotional response. Emotional intelligence as mediator between emotional regulation and emotional response. Poster, European Congress of Psychology – Brighton 2023.
doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12812.49289