The Role of Fatigue Management in Achieving Resilience for Underrepresented Minorities

Main Article Content

Jorge L. D. Albelo
Nikki M. O'Toole
Flavio A. C. Mendonca

Abstract

Aviation education and professional flight training present unique stressors to college students, such as mental, physical, and time management demands and the extensive financial burden. These stressors, on top of an already challenging college environment, can create a source of fatigue for students if not managed appropriately. As aviation education institutions continue to make progress in recruiting and retaining students from underrepresented minority groups using various tools and resources, it is crucial to recognize that underrepresented students face additional sources of fatigue that contribute to their attrition. For example, racial identity, cultural fatigue, and imposter syndrome can manifest in the daily life of a student in the form of microaggressions or biases. It is critically important to recognize these as sources of fatigue and find ways to address them holistically.

Article Details

Section
Proceedings

References

Albelo, J. L. D., Acosta, L. G., Mendonca, F. A. C., Kim, E., Almodovar, F. J. (2023a). Exploring the Hispanic/Latinx Interpretations of Collegiate Aviation Safety Culture. Journal of Aviation Technology & Engineering, 12(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1282

Albelo, J. L. D., McIntire, S., DuBois, S. E., Tisha, T., Matsumoto, K., Ho, J., & Jones, L. (2023b). Exploring minority underrepresented aviation/aerospace students’ mental health and success in higher education. International Journal of Aviation Research, 15(1). https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/IJAR/article/view/9581

Albelo, J. L. D., & McIntire, S. (2022). Mental health needs among minority aviation students. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 40(2), 217–223. http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/9513/8473

Albelo, J. L. D., & O’Toole, N. (2021). Teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation education. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 39(2), 226–273. http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/8400/7689

Albelo, J. L. D., O’Toole, N., & Kim, E. (2023c). Collegiate aviation students’ perceptions towards the integration of diversity and inclusion training: A qualitative case study. Journal of Aviation Aerospace Education & Research, 32(2), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.58940/2329-258X.1986

Albelo, J. L. D., O’Toole, N, & Bowyer, S. (2022). Implementing DEI in aviation education: Coping and addressing mental health concerns. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 40(2), 197–204. http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/9404/8439

Fowler Jr., R., Lundberg, A., Siao, D., & Smith, C. (2023). Women and minorities in commercial aviation: A quantitative analysis of data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 10(2), 2. https://doi.org/10.58940/2374-6793.1792

Howley, K. (2019). I–What is impostor syndrome? Aristotelian Society Supplementary, 93(1), 203–226. https://doi.org/10.1093/arisup/akz003

Keller, J., Mendonca, F. A. C., Cutter, J. E. (2019). Collegiate aviation pilots: Analyses of fatigue related decision-making scenarios. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2019.1360

Kim, E, & Albelo, J. L. D. (2021). How faculty’s academic support influence first-year females in aviation: A qualitative case study. International Journal of Aviation Research, 13(1), 90–104. https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/IJAR/article/view/8397/7653

Kim, E, & Albelo, J. L. D. (2020). +Minority women in aviation: A phenomenological study exploring the needs and wants necessary to successfully graduate from a four-year degree institution. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 38(2), 67–81. http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/8075/7435

Lutte, R. K. (2019). Women in aviation: A workforce report. Aviation Institute Faculty Publications, 6. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/aviationfacpub/6

McLlvenny, S. (1999). Fatigue as a transcultural issue. European Journal of General Practice, 6(1), 20–22. https://doi.org/10.3109/13814780009074502

Mendonca, F. A. C., Keller, J. J., & Albelo, J. L. D. (2023). Sleep quality and stress: An investigation of collegiate aviation pilots. Journal of American College Health, 71(5), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2237598

Mendonca, F. A. C., Keller, J. J., & Teo, A. (2021). Understanding fatigue within a collegiate aviation program. International Journal of Aerospace Psychology, 31(3), 181–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/24721840.2020.1865819

Mendonca, F. A. C.; Keller, J., & Lu, C. (2019). Fatigue identification and management in flight training: An investigation of collegiate aviation pilots. International Journal of Aviation, aeronautics, and Aerospace, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2019.1365

Michielsen, H. J., Willemsen, T. M., Croon, M. A., De Vries, J., & van Heck, G. L. (2004). Determinants of general fatigue and emotional exhaustion: A perspective study. Psychology & health, 19(2), 233–235. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440310001627135

Sanders, C. S. (2022). Targeting the workforce of tomorrow today. National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS). 34. https://commons.erau.edu/ntas/2022/presentation/34

Smith, W. A., Yosso, T. J., & Solorzano, D. G. (2006). Challenging racial battle fatigue on historically white campuses: A critical race examination of race-related stress. In Stanley, C. A. (Ed.), Faculty of color: Teaching in predominantly white colleges and universities (pp. 299–327). Anker

Romero, M, J., Robertson, M. F., Goets, S. C. (2020). Fatigue in collegiate flight training. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 38(1), 12–29. https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.20.100202