Mental health and substance use characteristics of flight attendants versus other clients in residential treatment

Background: Limited research has been undertaken to understand mental health and substance use problems among flight attendants. Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare flight attendants to other clients in residential treatment for substance use disorders concerning differences in the severity of their substance use and mental health symptoms, number of prior treatments, suicidality, and quality of life. Method: Medical charts of 70 flight attendants admitted consecutively to a residential substance abuse treatment center were compared with the charts of 63 randomly selected other clients attending treatment during the same time period. Results: No statistically significant between-group differences were found in suicidality or quality of life. However, flight attendants reported fewer symptoms indicative of alcohol or other drug dependency, as well as of antisocial personality disorder. They also reported fewer prior treatment episodes. However, the flight attendants were significantly less willin...