The relationship between workload levels and psychological resilience among Kenya Airways Cabin Crew Members

Abstract

Cabin crew members in any aviation industry undergo work related stressors associated with the nature of their day to day work in the airlines. This is a daily actuality in the aviation sector; work demands are significantly connected to the cabin crew productivity, resilience and flight safety due to diminishing performance and alertness created. Globally, cabin crew members face numerous stressors during their day to day work in the airlines that need sufficient resilience to guarantee healthy adaptation. The research study was guided by the need to understand relationship between workload levels and psychological resilience among Kenya Airways cabin crew members. The researcher adopted descriptive research; the independent variable (IV) was workload levels categorized into low, normal and high workload levels, while the study’s dependent variable (DV) was psychological resilience. The study’s first three objectives were guided by the relationships between the IV and the three attributes of the DV while the fourth objective was guided by the interrelationship between the three attributes of the dependent variable. The study was guided by four null hypotheses. The targeted population for the research was cabin crew members at Kenya Airways, including pursers, assistant flight pursers and flight attendants. Stratified random sampling was utilized to select the participants and data collection was through a Likert structured close ended questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 through descriptive statistics and also inferential statistics. Analyzing data descriptively involved central tendency measures and measures of dispersion. Analyzing data inferentially involved tests of correlation and chi-square analysis. Results were presented through charts and tables. Results from analysis showed a relationship between levels of workload and interpersonal control. However, there was no relationship between workload levels and personal competence, as well as self-esteem. Additionally, interpersonal control, self-esteem and personal competence had no relationship, but a significant relationship existed between personal competence and interpersonal control. The researcher recommended that a favorable working environment in the aviation industry needs to be maintained so as to boost interpersonal control. Also, maintaining good levels of personal competence can enhance cabin crew’s interpersonal control.