Foreign flight attendants’ stress and its impact of work-related behaviors

Acculturative stress is one of the critical issues in airline management in the world. A large number of crews quit their job because of acculturative stress. This study was conducted to identify the relationships among acculturative stress, burnout, and affective organizational commitment. Based on a literature review, theoretical hypotheses were developed. Also, a conceptual model for this study was proposed. The questionnaire data were collected from 199 Korean flight attendants working on the Middle East Airlines. Surveys were analyzed by using SPSS version 18.0 statistics package. Research findings confirmed that; (1) Perceived discrimination, Homesick, Sense of inferiority had effects on both Burnout & Affective Organizational Commitment; (2) the mediation effect analysis of Burnout between Acculturative stress and Affective Organizational Commitment are proved; and (3) the differences of Acculturative Stress by age, job grade, interview preparation period, and overseas experience were analyzed by using T-test & ANOVA. The results of this study suggest to develop new human resource policies and programs to reduce acculturative stress of Korean flight attendants in foreign airlines. Based on the findings, through discussions were provided.