Affect adjective check list assessment of mood variations in air traffic controllers.

Three groups of subjects completed Composite Mood Adjective Check Lists (CMACL) before and after selected shifts at two air traffic control (ATC) facilities as part of a multi-discipline study of stress in ATC work.
At one facility, a high traffic density tower (HDT), 22 air traffic control specialists (ATCS) were sampled before and after five evening (1500 to 2300) shifts and five night (0000) to 0800) shifts. At a second facility, a moderate traffic density tower (MDT), 16 ATCSs were assessed on three day (0800 to 1600) and three night (0000 to 0800) shifts. In addition, four non-ATC individuals involved in monitoring the MDT ATCSs for other aspects of the general stress study served as controls.
It was found that all subjects, both ATCSs and controls, showed a considerable increase in feelings associated with fatigue and tiredness as a function of working an eight-hour shift. These effects were generally more pronounced for night shifts. There were no differences between subject groups on the variables predicted to be most sensitive to variations in stress. Findings are discussed in terms of expected work effects and the lack of significant stress variations.