Aviation Stress Management: A Holistic Approach to Aviation Education and Training

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

We understand aviation professionals require excellent training to optimally perform and execute highly specialized skillsets, intellectually, physically, and psychologically. Within the aviation industry, individuals are trained to operate, maintain, and manage, multi-million-dollar assets, yet are lacking the basic knowledge and fundamentals of their own body, including the stress response. According to a 2019 stress ranking survey, pilots rank 3rd for highest stress professions while transportation industry workers ranked 8th. Historically, aviation professionals have been left to address symptoms of stress to their own accord, impacting personal health and organizational safety. However, with the collaborative influence of health education, transportation safety, and medical research, the experiences related to stress and effective stress management can be positively supported and integrated into the educational process. By empowering students to effectively learn from, understand, and make effective choices around managing their response to stressors, they will be able to make choices in support of personal health and well-being directly influencing and enhancing skillsets, productivity, and job performance. In efforts to reduce educational stress and to better equip our future leaders in aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has embedded an aviation stress management course into the Air Traffic Management Curriculum, with anticipation to eventually integrate stress management education across campus programs. We believe a holistic approach to aviation education, including stress management education will have a positive impact on our next generation aviation industry professionals.

Authors

• Perry, Jennah C Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• McVickers, Amy, M.Ed. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Stress Management
• Holistic Education
• Education
• Health and Physical Education
• Higher Education
• Student Counseling and Personnel Services