Applied Anthropology on the Ice: A Multidisciplinary Perspective on Health and Adaptation in Antarctica

• Main Authors: Palinkas, Lawrence A., Gunderson, E. K.
• Other Authors: NAVAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER SAN DIEGO CA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Psychology; Stress Physiology; *ANTHROPOLOGY; JOBS; ENVIRONMENTS; PERFORMANCE(HUMAN); HEALTH; STRESS(PHYSIOLOGY); ISOLATION; SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS; ICE; ILLNESS; PERSONNEL; MEDICAL RESEARCH; PERSONALITY; CULTURE; BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES; HUMAN RELATIONS; COLD STRESS(PHYSIOLOGY); PE62770A; WU621; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA198926; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA198926

This paper describes the health and adaptation of Antarctic winter- over personnel and outlines some of the ways in which applied medical anthropology can play a central role in understanding and improving health and performance under conditions of prolonged isolation in an extreme environment. The history of social and behavioral science research on the human experience in Antarctica is reviewed. Of particular interest are the sources and symptoms of stress among winter-over personnel, the relationship between stress and illness, and the moderating influence of personality, social support, and culture in this relationship. Scientists and support personnel who winter-over in the Antarctic experience a number of physiological and psychological changes which are a response to the harsh environmental conditions and prolonged isolation. However, the long-term record of health and performance among winter-over personnel subsequent to Antarctic duty suggest that a certain positive benefit may be acquired from the experience. This is perhaps due to the role of station microcultures which enable individuals to cope with the stress of prolonged isolation in an extreme environment. The holistic perspective of anthropology would allow for an examination of the respective contributions of group and individual processes to adaptation.