Stress in Air Force aviators facing the combat environment

BACKGROUND: This paper evaluates the effect of stress on four squadrons of United States Air Force aviators in tactical high performance aircraft deployed for combat operations compared with U.S. based aircrew using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as the evaluating instrument. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study consisting of 42 aviators in deployed squadrons stationed overseas and involved in a contingency mission, and 15 subjects stationed in the U.S. and not exposed to combat conditions. Each subject was administered the test instrument, which was completed in privacy and with complete anonymity. RESULTS: The hypotheses of interest were: a) the proportion of individuals in the population of fighter aircrew who would report excessive stress is 0; and b) no significant differences would exist in the proportion of individuals with excessive stress in the various squadrons. Using statistical methodology, these hypotheses were rejected. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that more studies in each given circumstance are necessary.