Occupational Health Implication of Covid-19 Layoffs on Airline Ground Staff: Study on Mental Health Effects

Winda Putri Diah Restya, Sri Nurhayati Selian

2023

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced numerous businesses to temporarily shut down and lay off their employees, triggering profound mental health repercussions. Sudden job loss can result in anger, stress, anxiety, and frustration, potentially leading to post-traumatic stress symptoms, substance abuse, and societal harm. This study explores the impact of COVID-19-related layoffs on workers' mental health, aiming to comprehensively assess their emotional experiences and coping strategies. The research employed qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and document analysis, to collect and analyze data thematically. Nine former aviation employees who had been laid off during the pandemic participated in the study. The findings reveal that, despite the challenging circumstances, these individuals exhibited positive mental health and psychological well-being following their job terminations. They predominantly employed problem-focused coping mechanisms to navigate this crisis. What sets COVID-19-induced layoffs apart from regular ones is the exceptional difficulty faced by these workers in securing new employment, given the widespread industry disruptions. Ground staff at airports, with their specialized technical skills, encountered even greater obstacles in finding alternative employment. This research underscores the unique challenges and resilience exhibited by workers affected by pandemic-induced layoffs, shedding light on the importance of mental health support and reemployment strategies in such extraordinary circumstances.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Restya W. and Selian S. (2023). Occupational Health Implication of Covid-19 Layoffs on Airline Ground Staff: Study on Mental Health Effects. In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Social Determinants of Health - Volume 1: ICSDH; ISBN 978-989-758-727-6, SciTePress, pages 115-123. DOI: 10.5220/0012901600004564

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsdh23,
author={Winda Putri Diah Restya and Sri Nurhayati Selian},
title={Occupational Health Implication of Covid-19 Layoffs on Airline Ground Staff: Study on Mental Health Effects},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Social Determinants of Health - Volume 1: ICSDH},
year={2023},
pages={115-123},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0012901600004564},
isbn={978-989-758-727-6},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Social Determinants of Health - Volume 1: ICSDH
TI - Occupational Health Implication of Covid-19 Layoffs on Airline Ground Staff: Study on Mental Health Effects
SN - 978-989-758-727-6
AU - Restya W.
AU - Selian S.
PY - 2023
SP - 115
EP - 123
DO - 10.5220/0012901600004564
PB - SciTePress