A resilience and safety climate analysis of cabin crew members

Although safety climate and resilience are recognized as paramount aspects in accident prevention, few studies have addressed their evaluation among cabin crew members. To reduce this research gap, this study proposed an analysis of the interplay between safety climate and resilience among cabin crew members. In particular, the Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50) and the Resilience Assessment Grid (RAG) tools were used together to interview 227 flight attendants employed in a European company. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses allowed us to explore the relationships between the factors investigated and the influence of demographics (i.e. age) and professional characteristics (i.e. job role). Results showed that there was a strong correlation between safety climate and resilience abilities, indicating that organizational perceptions and adaptive capabilities are interdependent. However, not all safety dimensions aligned with resilience metrics, bringing to light that individual safety attitudes (such as safety commitment and risk aversion) do not automatically translate into systemic resilience unless supported by training and organizational structures. Moreover, gender differences were evident, as female crew members showed higher safety perception and anticipation abilities. Differently, age was negatively correlated with safety climate, possibly due to complacency or overconfidence developed over time. Overall, the outcomes of the analysis underscored the critical importance of incorporating safety climate and resilience into training and daily operations of cabin crew members to foster a culture that is more adaptable, better prepared, and more effective in responding to unexpected events.