A comparison of anxiety between pilots and office workers

Piloting is one of the most critical and stressful professions in any society and may be considered as one of the most important military and defensive occupations. The closer a pilot to physical and mental health the higher is his performance. Thus، anxiety، being an important factor influencing behavior and performance، deserves close attention and careful study. The purpose of this study was to assess anxiety in pilots and to compare results with office workers. We conducted an ex post facto study to find the underlying factors affecting a behavior (anxiety). To do this، we compared subjects demonstrating this behavior (pilots) with others who lack such a behavior (office workers). A total of 68 pilots were randomly selected from all pilots residing in military air bases and compared with 68 office workers in terms of anxiety. We used the ketel test to assess anxiety. 20. 6% were fighter and 79. 4% were transport pilots. 39. 7% had participated in military operations and 14. 7% had experienced air accident. The average anxiety score did not show meaning ful difference among pilots and office workers، pilots participating in military operations versus non participators، and transport and fighter pilots. (p>0. 05) The average anxiety score was significantly different between pilots who had experienced air accident and others who lacked such experience. (p<0. 05) Our study showed no significant difference in anxiety between pilots and office worker at 0. 05 level. The failure to confirm other hypotheses may be due to the paucity of samples. Furthur research in different bases is recommended.