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Selected Works of Scott R. Winter
Article
How Do Depression Medications Taken By Pilots Affect Passengers' Willingness to Fly? A Mediation Analysis
Review of European Studies (2015)
  • Stephen Rice, Florida Institute of Technology
  • Scott R. Winter, Florida Institute of Technology
  • Keegan Kraemer, Walden University
  • Rian Mehta, Florida Institute of Technology
  • Korhan Oyman, Florida Institute of Technology
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Abstract
The mental health of airline pilots has been a concern for decades. In 2010, the United States Federal Aviation
Administration began allowing four types of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to be used by pilots
suffering from depression. After a procedural wait period, pilots may be awarded a special issuance of their
medical certificates to maintain flight currency. Missing from the literature was any research on consumer’s
perceptions of pilots taking antidepressants, along with some other approved medications. Therefore, the purpose
of the current study was to examine consumer’s willingness to fly once told that the pilot of their hypothetical
flight was taking medication compared to a control group in which the pilot was not on any prescribed and
approved medications. The current study also manipulated dosage levels and gathered affect data to determine if
consumers’ responses were rationally or emotionally motivated. Across two studies, consumers were less willing
to fly when the pilot was taking medication, and when the medication was a high dose opposed to a low dose.
Additionally, affect was found to completely mediate the relationship between three of the four medications
when compared to the control condition, suggesting that participants’ responses were emotionally driven. Finally,
a discussion of the findings and practical implications of the study are provided.
Keywords
  • stigmas,
  • affect,
  • antidepressants,
  • aviation,
  • pilots,
  • willingness to fly
Disciplines
Publication Date
July 30, 2015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5539/res.v7n11p200
Citation Information
Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter, Keegan Kraemer, Rian Mehta, et al.. "How Do Depression Medications Taken By Pilots Affect Passengers' Willingness to Fly? A Mediation Analysis" Review of European Studies Vol. 7 Iss. 11 (2015) p. 200 - 212 ISSN: 1918-7173
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott_winter/39/