FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-76/14

Title and Subtitle: Three studies of motion sickness susceptibility

Report Date: November 1976

Authors: Lentz JM, Collins WE

Abstract: The incidence of motion sickness in a large (N = 3,618) college population was determined by means of a questionnaires. Significantly greater proportions of men than women had low susceptibility scores; significantly greater proportions of women had high susceptibility scores. Comparisons of MSQ scores were made with other self-assessments, age changes, motion experiences, familial susceptibility, use of motion sickness medication, muscular coordination, willingness to participate in motion experiments, flying experience, phobias, visual motion effects, and use of alcohol.

The consistent and significant patterns of results from a variety of tests are discussed in terms of the personality characteristics that generally distinguish those highly susceptible from those nonsusceptible to motion sickness.

Key Words: Motion sickness, Vestibular function, Personality, Behavior

No. of Pages: 32