In the aviation industry, although flight crew members face unique stressors, including high workloads and work-family conflict (WFC), limited research addresses how these factors collectively impact well-being. Understanding this dynamic is critical given the safety-sensitive nature of the work.
This study examines how WFC mediates the relationship between workload and two key well-being indicators – burnout and engagement – among 180 crew members from a Southern European airline company.
Using a quantitative, correlational design with mediation analysis, they found that WFC fully mediates the relationship between workload and both burnout (positive mediation) and engagement (negative mediation).
These findings are relevant for human resource professionals, aviation managers and organizational psychologists aiming to enhance employee well-being and performance in high-stress, safety-critical environments. Interventions targeting workload management and work-family balance could improve both organizational outcomes and crew member health.
