AUTHOR=Renzi Alessia , Reho Matteo , Tomai Manuela , Scialanga Micaela , Cordella Barbara 

TITLE=The symbolizations emerging from aviation crew members’ perspectives on well-being: a linguistic analysis using emotional text mining

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1612940

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1612940

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=BackgroundWell-being is a complex and structured construct recently studied in aviation, primarily through self-report measures. The primary aim of this study is to explore aviation crews’ representations of well-being using the Emotional Text Mining (ETM) method. A secondary aim is to examine whether different representations are associated with occupational variables.Method492 participants (302 males) completed an online survey via SurveyMonkey, including an open-ended question prompting them to describe their perception of well-being. Additionally, socio-occupational variables were collected. The texts were analyzed using ETM, identifying how a social group emotionally symbolizes a topic.ResultsThe analysis revealed three clusters: (1) Material and Family Stability, (2) Individual Self-Development, and (3) Connection and Social Realization. These clusters are positioned within a factorial space defined by two factors: one contrasting individual vs. social representations of well-being and the other differentiating well-being as a set of given elements vs. an active, evolving process. No associations with occupational variables were found.ConclusionThe findings suggest a concept of well-being in which the work dimension is considered only marginally, primarily for its material and economic value, and not as part of a broader sense of personal fulfillment. Administering the survey within a workplace setting may have heightened social desirability bias, potentially influenced by fears of professional repercussions.