Job stress and burnout in collegiate flight instructors

Jennifer E Kirschner, Purdue University

Abstract

While many studies have examined the stress experienced by student pilots, airline pilots, and military pilots, few studies have investigated the stress and burnout experienced by flight instructors. Flight instruction can be particularly stressful for pilots because of the long working hours, the low pay, and the tension between simultaneously teaching complex maneuvers and maintaining the safety of flight. The sample of interest for this research project was full-time collegiate flight instructors. This two-part research study consisted of a one-time, online survey and two focus groups. Data analysis showed that pilots who rated their work as requiring more effort also had the largest amount of total time and longest amount of time spent as a flight instructor. There was also evidence for a positive relationship between conscientiousness and professional efficacy, but not overcommitment. Lastly, the data collected during this survey more closely followed the job demand-resources model of job stress than the effort-reward imbalance model. In the second phase of the study, two focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes that described the content discussed during the focus groups. The two themes were 1) adjusting to flight instruction, and 2) the intensity of collegiate aviation.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Fanjoy, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Educational psychology|Clinical psychology|Higher education

Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server
.

Share

COinS