Behavior and performance on long-duration spaceflights: Evidence from analogue environments

Background: Analyses of data collected in Antarctica since 1963 were conduc ted to identify features of behavior and performance likely to occur during long-duration missions in space. Methods: The influence of mission duratio n and station latitude on POMS mood scores was examined in 450 American men and women who wintered-over in Antarctica between 1991 and 1998. The influ ence of crewmember social characteristics, personality traits, interpersona l needs, and station environments on measures of behavior and performance a t the end of the austral winter was examined in 657 American men who winter ed-over between 1963 and 1974. Both data sets were used to examine the infl uence of crew social structure on individual performance. Results: Seasonal variations in mood appear to be associated with the altered diurnal cycle and psychological segmentation of the mission. Concurrent measures of perso nality, interpersonal needs, and coping styles are better predictors of dep ressed mood and peer-supervisor performance evaluations than baseline measu res because of the unique features of the station social and physical envir onments and the absence of resources typically used to cope with stress els ewhere. individuals in crews with a clique structure report significantly m ore depression, anxiety, anger, fatigue and confusion than individuals in c rews with a core-periphery structure. Depressed mood is inversely associate d with severity of station physical environment, supporting the existence o f a positive or "salutogenic" effect for individuals seeking challenging ex periences in extreme environments. Conclusion: Behavior and performance on long-duration spaceflights is likely to be seasonal or cyclical, situationa l, social, and salutogenic.