Stress Management

Stress Management

Stress management • Stress in aviation • Definitions and models of stress • Stress and health • Stress and performance • Stress management strategies • Conclusion Title of the presentation

Stress in aviation • Ryanair has detailed an incident in which the first officer of a Boeing 737-800 felt forced to take control the jet during an approach to Rome and carry out a diversion after becoming concerned about the state of the captain, whose son had died just days before Title of the presentation

Uberlingen accident TCAS Climb RA Descend RA TCAS ATC • Tupolev followed the ATC instruction • and not the RA TCAS • Several similar incidents • TCAS requires under temporal pressure and stress : • appropriate aircrew decision-making and communication • no reaction from ATC Title of the presentation

Definitions and models • Stress not a pathology but an adaptation process of an organism to an event, situation or a strain • Stress induces physiological reactions that arouse the nervous system (adrenalin release) • Several models or theories consider stress as : • external events • psychological/physiological reactions • an interaction between an event and the person Title of the presentation

Stimulus – response model Events Points Death of spouse 100 Divorce 73 Death of a close family member 63 Wedding 50 New baby 39 Change in financial affairs 38 Change in work 36 Mortgage 31 Problems with hierarchy 23 Changes in sleep habits 16 Adapted from Holmes and Rahé, 1967 Title of the presentation

Definitions of stress • Stress is neither an external event nor a reaction: it is a transaction between the individual and the environment (Lazarus model • Occurs when an individual assess her/his resource as not sufficient to cope with a situation • Interaction between job demands and decision latitude Title of the presentation

Job-demand control model (Karasek,1979) Job demand Low High Low Decision latitude High Negative stress (health effects) High strain Passive Low strain Active Positive stress (motivation) Title of the presentation

Job-demand control model (Karasek,1979) • Explains why a high frequency of cardiovascular diseases are observed at the intermediate level of the organization • Practical implications of the model for stress prevention: increase the level of control without reducing the demand • Limitations of the model: does not take into account factors such as new technologies, lack of security and others Title of the presentation

Stress factors at work Contents of work Job content Workload/work pace Work schedule Interpersonal relationships at work Control Context of work Organizational culture and function Role in organization Career development Home-work interface Title of the presentation

The cost of stress • Europe: stress affects 41 million workers (28%), second health issue related to work after muscular disorders • Cost: From 0.5 to 3% of Gross Domestic Product • USA: annual cost of $200 billion (absenteeism and medical expenses) • Company performance • Social climate Title of the presentation

Stress and health Short-term effects : Tachycardia, perspiration, muscular tension and more Psychological disorders Heart rate Immune depression Blood pressure Gastro-intestinal deseases Sexual disorders Muscular deseases Long-term effects : cardiovascular illnesses, immune diseases Title of the presentation

Effects of acute stress on decision-making • Reductive thinking: only a few hypotheses are considered • Confirmation bias: seeking information to confirm pre-selected hypotheses and the mental model of the situation • Focalization, fixation • Haste in action • Active response • Regression: forgetting the most recent learning • Only immediate survivalgoals are considered. Long-term considerations are sacrificed for short-term goals. Title of the presentation

Stress and performance - focalization Search an ATC area before a separation conflict 15 min before event 10 min before event 5 min before event Title of the presentation

Stress and performance - focalization Separation conflict Search an ATC area before a separation conflict 5 min before event 4 min before event 3 min before event 2 min before event 1 min before event Title of the presentation

Mean variations of Heart Rate for one scenario Stress and performance -- TCAS A320 part task simulator Title of the presentation

Stress and performance -- TCAS Results • Active answer • Pilots are used to putting the vertical-speed needle at the limit of the red sector • A ‘monitor vertical-speed’ RA does not require a maneuver • Automatic reflex on a TCAS RA -- Monitor Vertical Speed Monitor Vertical Speed Autopilot off Title of the presentation

Stress management Title of the presentation

The three levels of stress prevention Primary prevention Sources of stress in the organization e.g., role ambiguity, job demands Causes - Consequences Secondary prevention Causes - Consequences Individuals or groups e.g.stress management training Tertiary prevention Causes - Consequences Individual/curativee.g., relaxation, psychological support after an event X X X X Title of the presentation

Stress management/individual level - coping strategies Focused on problem solving Focused on emotional reactions The reduction of the emotional strain if the person perceives that the situation cannot be changed The problem to solve if the person perceives that the situation can be changed Two types of coping strategies Title of the presentation

Stress management on an individual level – improving anticipation Le cercle vertueux de l'anticipation Add time for anticipation Quicker/better understanding Better error management Fewer resources consumed Add control of action ANTICIPATION From M.C Dentan Title of the presentation

Conclusion • Stress may impair health and safety in aviation. • Various ways of managing stress exist, but a prevention strategy is more efficient in the long-term. • Stress should be taken into account in the design of aircraft to ensure that systems are tolerant to stress. Title of the presentation

Stress Management