Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer
INTRODUCTION Antarctic expeditions present exceptional physiological and mental challenges. Research data are lacking on psychological aspects of such endeavours. The aim of our study is to provide data on changes in mood, well-being, personality traits and personal experiences during an Antarctica...
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2024
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ftunivzuerich:oai:www.zora.uzh.ch:260754 2024-09-30T14:23:54+00:00 Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer Scheer, Volker Chandi, H Valero Burgos, E Thuany, M Knechtle, Beat Steinach, M 2024-06-19 application/pdf https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/260754/ https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/260754/1/Scheer_Psychological_aspects_of_the_longest.pdf https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-260754 https://doi.org/10.1136/military-2023-002647 eng eng BMJ Publishing Group https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/260754/1/Scheer_Psychological_aspects_of_the_longest.pdf doi:10.5167/uzh-260754 doi:10.1136/military-2023-002647 info:pmid/38897641 urn:issn:2633-3775 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Scheer, Volker; Chandi, H; Valero Burgos, E; Thuany, M; Knechtle, Beat; Steinach, M (2024). Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer. BMJ military health:Epub ahead of print. Institute of General Practice 610 Medicine & health Journal Article NonPeerReviewed info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2024 ftunivzuerich https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-26075410.1136/military-2023-002647 2024-09-04T00:39:04Z INTRODUCTION Antarctic expeditions present exceptional physiological and mental challenges. Research data are lacking on psychological aspects of such endeavours. The aim of our study is to provide data on changes in mood, well-being, personality traits and personal experiences during an Antarctica crossing. METHODS This is a study of a 33-year-old female British Army officer (height 175 cm; weight 75 kg; body mass index 24.49 kg/m$^{2}$; VO$_{2max}$ 49 mL/kg/min) who completed the longest, solo, unsupported, one-way polar ski expedition. The expedition started at Hercules Inlet and finished at Ross Ice Shelf, lasting 70 days and 16 hours covering 1484.53 km, with temperatures estimating from -12°C to -50°C and wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. The adventurer pulled all equipment and nutrition in a pulk (sled), weighing approximately 120 kg. Five psychometric questionnaires were completed pre post and during the expedition, including the International Personality Item Pool - Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness-60, Brief Assessment of Mood, Positive and Negative Affective Schedule, Profile of Mood States, Wellness questionnaire, as well as an unstructured open questionnaire. RESULTS Mood generally deteriorated, particularly positive affective mood. Scores for fatigue and muscle soreness increased, with a reduction in sleep times. Personality traits of openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness remained stable throughout the expedition, with some reduction in extraversion and an increase in neuroticism. Personal accounts give a unique insight into the increasing demands on the mental and physical impact of the expedition. CONCLUSIONS Meticulous preparation and planning may have led to a successful expedition, including physical preparation, prior on-field experience, and psychological preparedness and resiliance. Some of these strategies may be applicable to a range of settings, including future Antarctic expeditions, expeditions in extreme environments, or missions within a military context. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Shelf Ross Ice Shelf University of Zurich (UZH): ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive Antarctic Hercules ENVELOPE(161.450,161.450,-77.483,-77.483) Hercules Inlet ENVELOPE(-79.000,-79.000,-80.066,-80.066) Ross Ice Shelf |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Zurich (UZH): ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivzuerich |
language |
English |
topic |
Institute of General Practice 610 Medicine & health |
spellingShingle |
Institute of General Practice 610 Medicine & health Scheer, Volker Chandi, H Valero Burgos, E Thuany, M Knechtle, Beat Steinach, M Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer |
topic_facet |
Institute of General Practice 610 Medicine & health |
description |
INTRODUCTION Antarctic expeditions present exceptional physiological and mental challenges. Research data are lacking on psychological aspects of such endeavours. The aim of our study is to provide data on changes in mood, well-being, personality traits and personal experiences during an Antarctica crossing. METHODS This is a study of a 33-year-old female British Army officer (height 175 cm; weight 75 kg; body mass index 24.49 kg/m$^{2}$; VO$_{2max}$ 49 mL/kg/min) who completed the longest, solo, unsupported, one-way polar ski expedition. The expedition started at Hercules Inlet and finished at Ross Ice Shelf, lasting 70 days and 16 hours covering 1484.53 km, with temperatures estimating from -12°C to -50°C and wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. The adventurer pulled all equipment and nutrition in a pulk (sled), weighing approximately 120 kg. Five psychometric questionnaires were completed pre post and during the expedition, including the International Personality Item Pool - Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness-60, Brief Assessment of Mood, Positive and Negative Affective Schedule, Profile of Mood States, Wellness questionnaire, as well as an unstructured open questionnaire. RESULTS Mood generally deteriorated, particularly positive affective mood. Scores for fatigue and muscle soreness increased, with a reduction in sleep times. Personality traits of openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness remained stable throughout the expedition, with some reduction in extraversion and an increase in neuroticism. Personal accounts give a unique insight into the increasing demands on the mental and physical impact of the expedition. CONCLUSIONS Meticulous preparation and planning may have led to a successful expedition, including physical preparation, prior on-field experience, and psychological preparedness and resiliance. Some of these strategies may be applicable to a range of settings, including future Antarctic expeditions, expeditions in extreme environments, or missions within a military context. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Scheer, Volker Chandi, H Valero Burgos, E Thuany, M Knechtle, Beat Steinach, M |
author_facet |
Scheer, Volker Chandi, H Valero Burgos, E Thuany, M Knechtle, Beat Steinach, M |
author_sort |
Scheer, Volker |
title |
Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer |
title_short |
Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer |
title_full |
Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer |
title_fullStr |
Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer |
title_full_unstemmed |
Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer |
title_sort |
psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in antarctica by a female adventurer |
publisher |
BMJ Publishing Group |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/260754/ https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/260754/1/Scheer_Psychological_aspects_of_the_longest.pdf https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-260754 https://doi.org/10.1136/military-2023-002647 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(161.450,161.450,-77.483,-77.483) ENVELOPE(-79.000,-79.000,-80.066,-80.066) |
geographic |
Antarctic Hercules Hercules Inlet Ross Ice Shelf |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Hercules Hercules Inlet Ross Ice Shelf |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Shelf Ross Ice Shelf |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Shelf Ross Ice Shelf |
op_source |
Scheer, Volker; Chandi, H; Valero Burgos, E; Thuany, M; Knechtle, Beat; Steinach, M (2024). Psychological aspects of the longest, solo, unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica by a female adventurer. BMJ military health:Epub ahead of print. |
op_relation |
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/260754/1/Scheer_Psychological_aspects_of_the_longest.pdf doi:10.5167/uzh-260754 doi:10.1136/military-2023-002647 info:pmid/38897641 urn:issn:2633-3775 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-26075410.1136/military-2023-002647 |
_version_ |
1811638961928404992 |