Motion sickness susceptibility and related behavioral characteristics in men and women.

The incidence of motion sickness in a large (N = 3,618) college population was determined by means of a questionnaire. The test-retest reliability coefficient (0.84) suggested that the motion sickness questionnaire (MSQ) for this particular population yields highly consistent information. Significantly greater proportions of men than women had low susceptibility scores and, conversely, significantly greater proportions of women had high susceptibility scores. The relationships between motion sickness susceptibility scores and several behavioral characteristics in men and women were also investigated. Specifically, 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.