Coping with Antarctic demands: psychological implications of isolation and confinement

• Published in: Stress and Health
• Main Authors: Tortello, Camila, Folgueira, Agustín, Nicolas, Michel, Cuiuli, Juan Manuel, Cairoli, Germán, Crippa, Valeria, Barbarito, Marta, Abulafia, Carolina, Golombek, Diego Andrés, Vigo, Daniel Eduardo, Plano, Santiago Andrés
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de psychologie : dynamiques relationnelles et processus identitaires Dijon (PSY-DREPI), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC), Maison des Sciences de l'Homme de Dijon (MSH Dijon (MSHD)), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Biomedical Research Institute Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Buenos Aires (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (UNQ), Santé
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: mood variations; strategies; emotional questionnaire; [SHS.PSY]Humanities and Social Sciences/Psychology; Antarctic; Argentine; Belgrano; Belgrano II; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://u-bourgogne.hal.science/hal-03552010; https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3006

International audience Working in extreme environments requires a wide range of cognitive, psychological and social competences. Antarctica represents one of the most challenging habitats to work in due to its aridity, extremely cold weather, and isolated conditions. This study aimed to assess mood variations and coping strategies, as well as their possible modulation by group dynamics in a crew at the Belgrano II Argentine Antarctic Station throughout 1 year of confinement. Thirteen members of the Argentine Army completed emotional, coping and social dynamics questionnaires bimonthly in March, May, July, September and November. Results showed a significant decline in social dynamics scales, evidenced by decreases in perceived peer and hierarchical support. Additionally, coping strategies displayed a drop in mature defence throughout the expedition. A positive correlation was found between social support and recovery from stress. Our results highlight the importance of interpersonal relationships in psychological adjustment to isolation and extreme environments.