Time-dependent mood fluctuations in Antarctic personnel: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Authors: Hawkes, C, Norris, K
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2017
• Subjects: Antarctica; extreme environments; health; human behaviour; psychology; Antarctic; Antarc*; Polar Record
• Online Access: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/25050/; https://doi.org/10.1017/S003224741700050X

The third-quarter phenomenon is the dominant theoretical model to explain the psychological impactsof deployment in Antarctica on personnel. It posits that detrimental symptoms to functioning, such as negativemood, increase gradually throughout deployment and peak at the third-quarter point, regardless of overall deploymentlength. However, there is equivocal support for the model. The current meta-analysis included data from 21 studies(involving 1,826 participants) measuring negative mood during deployment to elucidate this discrepancy. Acrossstudies analyses were conducted on three data types: stratified by month using repeated-measured all time points metaanalytictechniques and pre/post-deployment data for summer/winter deployment seasons. Our results did not supportthe proposed parameters of the third-quarter phenomenon, as negative mood did not peak at the third-quarter point(August/September) of deployment. Overall effect sizes indicated that negative mood was greater at baseline than the endof deployment for summer and winter deployment seasons. These findings have theoretical and practical implicationsand should be used to guide future research, assisting in the development and modification of pre-existing preventionand intervention programmes to improve well-being and functioning of personnel during Antarctic deployment.