An investigation of flight anxiety among adults: The roles of anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, locus of control and metacognition

Abstract

Flight anxiety can be experienced in connection with different factors such as past experiences and learning, personality-related features, and cognitive characteristics. Despite the variety of international studies, it is noteworthy that there are limited studies on this subject in the Turkish literature. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship of flight anxiety with anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, locus of control, and metacognition in a sample of Turkish society. 887 people (63% women) between the ages of 18-73 (M = 35, SD = 11.23) participated in the study. Sociodemographic Information Form, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Locus of Control Scale, Metacognitions Questionnaire-30, Flight Anxiety Situations Questionnaire, and Flight Anxiety Modality Questionnaire were used as data collection tools. It was determined that anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, external-locus of control, and metacognition were positively related to flight anxiety situations and flight anxiety modality-somatic, and cognitive symptoms. Moreover, these variables separately predicted flight anxiety situations and flight anxiety modality-somatic and cognitive symptoms. In the model analyses, it was identified that locus of control had a moderator role in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and flight anxiety modality-somatic symptoms. Besides, it was found that metacognition had a mediator role in the relationships between anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty with flight anxiety situations and flight anxiety modality-cognitive symptoms. Finally, it is thought that including anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, locus of control, and metacognition in evaluations and interventions for people who experience flight anxiety will be important. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.