The impact of an implementation intention to improve mealtimes and reduce jet lag in long-haul cabin crew.
Jet lag is common place amongst long-haul cabin crew. Timed food has been shown to reset the circadian rhythm in rodents. Implementation intentions have been used to change eating behaviour. Mealtimes could therefore be used as a countermeasure to reduce jet lag and improve alertness in long-haul cabin crew through forming an implementation intention to improve the regularity of meals on days off.



Sixty long-haul crew took part in a randomised controlled trial, with two conditions: forming an implementation intention to eat regular meals on days off vs. no implementation intention. Pre-intervention measurements were taken at baseline (before a long-haul trip) and post-intervention measures were taken on the first and second days off post-trip.



Subjective jet lag (unidimensional and multidimensional) and objective alertness (Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT)).



Mixed ANOVA showed a significant condition x time interaction for unidimensional jet lag but not for multidimensional jet lag and objective alertness. In particular, the formation of an implementation intention to alter mealtimes resulted in a reduction of unidimensional jet lag.



Implementation intentions can be used to alleviate jet lag in long-haul crew through promoting a change in mealtimes.
a School of Psychology , University of Surrey , Guildford , UK.
Cristina
C
Ruscitto
a School of Psychology , University of Surrey , Guildford , UK.
Jane
J
Ogden
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D020179:Jet Lag Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014851:Wakefulness; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
PVT; implementation intentions; jet lag; long-haul cabin crew; mealtimes; peripheral clocks