ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how cabin crew deals with their somewhat abnormal lifestyle, compounded by organizational structures that are often beyond the control of the individual crew member. The working environment of the modern commercial aircraft and the conditions in which airline cabin crew operate have been largely ignored in the industrial relations literature, and organizational psychology. In an overview of the mental health of pilots, it was found that the consequences of disruption to personal relationship upon air crew mental health are not as yet sufficiently understood and appreciated. In a study consisting of in depth interviews with eight long haul cabin crew from major UK airlines, it was found difficult to separate the impact of physical and psycho-social work related stress on worker's mental wellbeing. The idea of a positive association between stable uncomplicated relationships and psychological wellbeing appeared to be a significant theme in earlier literature reviews in aviation psychology.
