Stress and Fatigue

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

A nonspecific response of the body to any demand. The wear and tear on a body

Question 2

What is a stressor?

Answer 2

Any stimulus or event that requires an individual to adjust or adapt in some way, either psychosocial, environmental, physiological, cognitive

Question 3

What are psychosocial stressors?

Answer 3

Life events, things that happen externally that impact us internally.

Job stress, illness, family

Question 4

What are environmental stressors?

Answer 4

Originates from one’s surroundings

Altitude, speed, extreme temperature, aircraft design, flight conditions

Question 5

What are physiological stressors?

Answer 5

These are self-imposed. Things like drugs, exhaustion, alcohol, tobacco, hypoglycemia

Question 6

What are cognitive stressors?

Answer 6

How one perceives a given situation or problem

all or nothing thinking, musts vs should, failure to focus on here and now

Question 7

What is fatigue?

Answer 7

The state of feeling tired, weary or sleepy that results from prolonged mental or physical work, extended periods of anxiety, exposure to harsh environments, or loss of sleep. Boring or monotonous tasks can increase fatigue.

Question 8

What is acute fatigue?

Answer 8

Associated with physical or mental activity between two regular sleep periods

Crew members experience this at night after being awake for 12-15 hours

Question 9

What is chronic fatigue?

Answer 9

Occurs over a long period of time and is typically the result of inadequate recovery from successive periods of acute fatigue

Question 10

What is motivational exhaustion or burnout?

Answer 10

Chronic fatigue that remains untreated for too long will eventually shut down and cease functioning occupationally and socially

Question 11

What are the effects of fatigue on performance?

Answer 11

Reaction time, reduced attention, diminished memory, changes in mood, impaired communication