Lindseth and Lindseth evaluated risk factors for airsickness in student pilots at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. These can probably also be used to screen airline passengers who might be concerned about becoming airsick.
Subjects were male and female college students taking a course in aviation.
Criteria used to describe airsickness:
(1) nausea and vomiting
(2) queasiness
(3) cold sweat
(4) faintness
(5) urge to urinate
(6) greyout or blackout (possibly due to vasovagal response)
Preflight risk factors for airsickness:
(1) nausea
(2) vomiting
(3) tremors
(4) face flushing
(5) nightmares
(6) urinary frequency (indicating an urge to urinate)
(7) excessive nervousness
(8) high anxiety index (on the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Index)
(9) problem with sexuality
Having a flight partner was associated with increased anxiety and increased airsickness.
where:
• Some of the risk factors are symptoms of airsickness (such as nausea and vomiting).
• Some of the symptoms of airsickness could be manifestations of unresolved preflight anxiety.
• I am not sure how independent nervousness and anxiety level are.
• In the implementation I did not score mild anxiety or nervousness unless one of the other risk factors were present. Severe anxiety or nervousness were given 2 points each.
The risk increased when 2 or more risk factors are present.
