Mental health and substance use characteristics of flight attendants versus other clients in residential treatment

Abstract

Background: Limited research has been undertaken to understand mental health and substance use problems among flight attendants.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare flight attendants to other clients in residential treatment for substance use disorders concerning differences in the severity of their substance use and mental health symptoms, number of prior treatments, suicidality, and quality of life.

Method: Medical charts of 70 flight attendants admitted consecutively to a residential substance abuse treatment center were compared with the charts of 63 randomly selected other clients attending treatment during the same time period.

Results: No statistically significant between-group differences were found in suicidality or quality of life. However, flight attendants reported fewer symptoms indicative of alcohol or other drug dependency, as well as of antisocial personality disorder. They also reported fewer prior treatment episodes. However, the flight attendants were significantly less willing than their treatment peers to admit problems associated with their substance use.

Conclusion: Although flight attendants were shown to be somewhat higher functioning than their treatment peers, mental health professions need to be aware of the need to address flight attendants' lack of insight into their substance-related problems.

Keywords:

• dual diagnosis
• flight attendants
• mood disorder
• personality disorder
• residential treatment
• substance abuse

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Association of Flight Attendants for bringing to our attention the need for research with this population.