Studies On Relationship Between Personalities, Coping Styles And Mental Health Status In Air Traffic Controllers

AIM Psychological studies on air traffic controllers are useful for building up psychological quality of acclimatizing themselves to special work and improving their mental health status. This is important both for theory and practice. Nowadays, psychological studies of air traffic controllers is just on the beginning, no systematic theory has been shaped for most of the problems, and no psychological studies on air traffic controllers were reported yet.In this study, air traffic controllers and ordinary servicemen were selected as subjects, personalities and psychological health were examined and compared; and they were compared with nationwide norm at the same time, too. In order to provide scientific methods for the selection, training and administration of air traffic controllers, correlations among personalities, coping style and mental health of controllers were discussed.METHODS1. All the 44 cadets of Air Control Department and ordinary servicemen selected randomly were examined with Applying Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF).2. Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ) was performed in the above subjects.3. Results of the tests of the two groups were statistically analyzed and compared with the nationwide norm.4. The correlation between the 16PF and SCL-90, SCL-90 and CSQ were analyzed.RESULTS1. Compared to nationwide norm, air traffic controllers have higher sociality, stability, stubbornness, excitability, gallantry, experience and lower sensitivity, suspicion, illusion, worry, experiment, independence.2. Compared to ordinary servicemen, air traffic controllers have lower excitability and sensitivity.3. The scores of SCL-90 factors of air traffic controllers were lower than norm of nationwide and PLA (P<0.05).4. No obvious differences was observed in the final scores of SCL-90 between the air traffic controllers and their peers in other forces (P>0.05).5. The scores of SCL-90 factors of air traffic controllers had negative correlation with stability, excitability, gallantry; and positive correlation with sensitivity, worry, nervousness.6. To most of the factors in SCL-90, there was negative correlation between them and solving problem, asking for help; and positive correlation coming to self-reproach, retreat, reasonableness.CONCLUSIONS1. Air traffic Controllers had higher mental health status compared to norm of nationwide and PLA. The reason maybe that they had passed strict physical and psychological selection, so they had better psychological quality.2. Personalities of air traffic controllers were more mature and stable compared to their peers in other forces. This was related to their strict, scientific military training and adaptations to dangerous mission environments.3. There was significant correlation between mental health status and personalities, coping styles in air traffic controllers. Mature, stable personalities and coping actively, being good at asking for help played an important role in keeping good mental status for air traffic controllers.