Psychological Characteristics of United States Air Force Pilots.
Abstract
This document represents the final report of the protocol entitled Assessment of Psychological Factors in Aviators, funded in fiscal year 1995 by the Department of Defense Women's Health Research Program (DWRHP). This protocol studied the psychological and psychiatric health of 64 male and 50 female non-referred United States Air Force (USAF) pilots. A number of psychological tests were administered as well as a structured interview. The Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (MAB), the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), the Crew Management Attitude Questionnaire (CMAQ), and the Personal Characteristics Inventory (PCI) were presented on IBM ThinkPad computers. While MAB intelligence scores were nearly identical for men and women, women were found to have higher scores on the Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scales of the NEO-FFI. CMAQ results, however, suggest no significant male/female 'resource management' differences. The semi-structured interview sought information about personal/family health, squadron relationships, and career/deployment stresses. The interview findings suggest that the USAF Academy is an important avenue for women to enter military aviation, many young female pilots are delaying childbearing for their aviation career, and the squadron members most often reported as having trouble with mixed- gender squadrons are older male enlisted crew members and male supervisors. An important area for future training proved to be men's desire to protect women in combat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311379
Entities
People
- Christopher F. Flynn
- James W. Butler
- Paul D. Retzlaff
- Raymond E. King
- Suzanne E. Mcglohn
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine