Sleep quality,mental state and quality of life of civil aviation aircrews

CUI Yujing; ZHONG Haiping; XU Weizhe; ZHU Yujiao; GUO Danming; XU Haishan; ZHANG Feng; YE Jianpin; LI Qingyan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2097-1753.2025.01.003

Abstract：Objective To analyze the relationships between sleep quality,mental state and quality of life of civil aviation aircrews in order to provide a reference for preventing these conditions.Methods The convenient sampling method,a general questionnaire,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),and a 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey Scale(SF-12)were used to survey 395 aircrews of an airline,assess their sleep quality,and analyze the causes of sleep disorders and the correlations between sleep quality and depression,anxiety and quality of life.Results The incidence of sleep disorders in these aircrews was 28.6%,and flying over more than 4 time zones for more than 3 times in one month was a risk factor for sleep disorders(OR=2.790,95%CI:1.266～6.147,P=0.011).Among these aircrews,28.9%suffered from depression(114/395)and 7.8%anxiety(31/395).Depression and anxiety were more common among aircrews with sleep disorders than among those with normal sleep(t=7.102,5.044,both P＜0.001).The scores of sleep quality of aircrews were positively correlated with the scores of depression and anxiety(r=0.304,0.216,both P＜0.001).The scores of general health,role-physical scores,role-emotional scores and those of bodily pain,mental health,vitality and social function of the aircrew with normal sleep were higher than those of the sleep disorder group(t=4.111-8.323,all P＜0.001).Conclusion The body height is a factor leading to sleep disorders in aircrews,and flying over more than 4 time zones three times or more in a month is a risk factor for sleep disorders.Sleep quality,depression and anxiety of aircrews are mutually causal and complicated in their correlations.Airlines should attach importance to sleep and mental health management of aircrews who are different in heights,fly across time zones and remain physically inactive.