Sleep quality and stress: An investigation of collegiate aviation pilots

Abstract

Objective: To investigate collegiate aviation pilots’ quality of sleep and psychological distress levels. Participants: Collegiate aviation pilots from a Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 four-year degree-awarding university in central Florida (N = 192). Method: The Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quality Index and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were utilized to assess the participants’ subjective quality sleep and psychological distress levels, respectively. A Spearman’s rank-order correlation was run to assess the relationship between quality sleep and distress levels in collegiate aviation student pilots. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality among the collegiate aviation pilots was 69%. Mild or severe psychological distress was experienced by 32% (n = 61) of the pilots. There was a strong, positive association between quality sleep and psychological distress (rs (192) = .716, p < .05). Conclusion: Results suggested collegiate aviation programs should promote explicit strategies for students to improve their sleep habits and well-being.