Psychological changes arising from an Antarctic stay: systematic overview

• Main Authors: Zimmer,Marilene, Cabral,João Carlos Centurion Rodrigues, Borges,Fernanda Czarneski, Côco,Karen Gonçalves, Hameister,Bianca da Rocha
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas 2013
• Subjects: Antarctic regions; Environmental psychology; Social isolation; Stress; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-166X2013000300011

Long-term stays in extreme environments, such as Polar Regions, may cause significant changes in the health and well-being of individuals. A systematic overview aimed to map studies about the psychological effects on Antarctic expeditioners. The reviewed data were categorized and divided into two thematic axes: Negative Effects, resulting from harmful psychophysiological variations caused by exposure to the polar stressors, which may present seasonal symptom patterns, altering cognitive performance, mood and interpersonal relationships; and Positive Effects, such as salutogenic results arising from successful adaption to environmental adversities. Due to the great deal of evidence, it is suggested that protection factors should be promoted through preventive approaches, such as psychological training and support in order to reduce symptoms and generate satisfactory adaptation to Antarctica.