Study of the psychological adaptation of the crew during a 135 days space simulation.

The purpose of this study is to examine human adaptation of a three members' crew during a 135 days MIR flight simulation and to compare and validate psychological methods for monitoring and support in flight. The main findings showed that isolation was not a key factor for the subjects who were more concerned by recreational activities, family, and work. The individual reactions to stress of the crew members were to project their problems on the others. These reactions had some consequences upon the group: Although the three subjects developed a weak tendency to "group think", one of the crew members was considered as less integrated to the group by the other two subjects, who, however, acted to protect (successfully) the general cohesion and mood of the crew. From a methodological point of view, baseline data predicted the difficulties that occurred for one of the crew member. Both quantitative and qualitative tools were adequate, although qualitative tests gave a closer approach to the actual situation that developed during the simulation.

[A methodological study in a space flight simulation context]. / Une etude methodologique lors d'une simulation espace.

To study the effects of isolation and confinement on small groups during long space flights, it is habitual to use closed hyperbaric ground chambers. For the first time, the European Space Agency made use of a nautral environment taking advantage of an Antarctic winter-over at the French Dumont d'Urville Station. The main objective of that study ("International Antarctic Psychological Programme"), was to compare different Russian tests used for training cosmonauts to a W. European approach validated during previous winter studies and European ground chamber simulations. Russian techniques appeared to be oriented to a narrow range of phenomena and unsuited to discern the adjustment to stress conditions.

Psychological study of a crew in long-term space flight simulation.

This research derives from a 60-day isolation study realized for the European Space Agency (ESA) as a simulation of space flights. Three goals were pursued in this study: (a) to study individual and group responses to the stress factors specific to the simulation; (b) to make a critical comparison of a variety of tools and methods used for this purpose; and (c) to express recommendations for future research. Direct methods (questionnaires, tests) and indirect methods (observation) were used in an individual and a whole group assessment. The group did not show important stress manifestations during the isolation period. It maintained its cohesion by opposing the external authority. Some tools were more efficient than others: The qualitative and indirect methods have revealed much more information than the quantitative or direct methods that reinforced one's defense to avoid criticism.

The quantitative and qualitative use of the Adaptability Questionnaire (ADQ).

The construction and use of the brief Adaptability Rating Questionnaire (ADQ) in a unique Antarctic field study is described, and comparisons are made between the ratings of a trained observer, a peer group and the subjects themselves. The indications are that the ADQ goes some way towards filling a need for rating scale to measure the adaptability of small groups to hostile and unusual environments.

A psychometric study of stress and coping during the International Biomedical Expedition to the Antarctic (IBEA).

A psychometric study was made of stress and coping during the course of the International Biomedical Expedition to Antarctica (IBEA). The stressors were specified by observation, as were the group's behavioral reactions to them, but they produced no significant differences on scales of symptomatology. The repressor/sensitization defensive style of coping was then examined, and although there were grounds for associating repressor tendencies with the low self-reporting of stress, the group sizes were too small to confirm the suggestion statistically. But the question needs now to be taken further, as also does that of laboratory stressors.