Differential Effects Of Multidimensional Mental Workload On Fatigue Severity In Air Traffic Controllers

Creative Commons License

Tuncal A., Çeken S., Taştekin N.

Aviation Innovation and Research Symposium – AIRS 2026, Nevşehir, Türkiye, 24 - 25 Nisan 2026, ss.9, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Nevşehir
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.9
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The aim of the study is to determine the impact of the multidimensional mental workload (cognitive, temporal, emotional, and performance) experienced by air traffic controllers on fatigue severity. The research sample consists of 221 air traffic controllers working in various air traffic control units. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the CarMen mental workload questionnaire, and the fatigue severity scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses, and difference tests were employed for data analysis. The results indicated that the participants' mean fatigue severity score was 4.42, indicating a state of significant fatigue. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that overall mental workload explained 28.9% of the variance in fatigue (β = .538, p < .001). When examining the sub-dimensions of mental workload, performance demands yielded the highest mean score, yet this dimension demonstrated no significant correlation with fatigue. In the multiple regression model, emotional workload emerged as the only sub-dimension that significantly predicted fatigue severity (β = .507, p < .001). These findings demonstrate that fatigue among air traffic controllers is driven not merely by operational intensity or cognitive load, but substantially by emotional workload. Although the perceived requirement for high performance is profound, the fact that it does not directly determine fatigue suggests this pressure is internalized and normalized as an inherent characteristic of the profession.