Cognitive coping and anxiety symptoms among people who seek help for fear of flying.

INTRODUCTION

Fear of flying among potential passengers is rather common. In order to treat fear of flying most efficiently, it is important to find out which aspects are related to flight anxiety. The objective of the present study was to examine the extent to which various cognitive coping strategies in response to a flight were used by airline passengers and their relationship with anxiety symptoms.

METHOD: A total of 261 persons who were all seeking treatment for fear of flying filled in the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the anxiety subscales of the Symptom Check List (SCL-90), the Flight Anxiety Situations questionnaire, and the Flight Anxiety Modality questionnaire.

RESULTS

Respondents reported using refocus on planning, rumination, putting into perspective to the highest extent and catastrophizing and other-blame to the lowest extent. Furthermore, respondents who reported using self-blame, acceptance, rumination, and/or catastrophizing to a higher extent also reported significantly higher levels of anxiety.

DISCUSSION: As the present study suggests that several cognitive coping strategies are related to anxiety, intervention programs should pay attention to these aspects. The present study gives important clues about which cognitive coping strategies should be challenged in treatment of flight anxiety.