Psychosocial interactions during ISS missions

Abstract Based on anecdotal reports from astronauts and cosmonauts, studies of space analog environments on Earth, and our previous research on the Mir Space Station, a number of psychosocial issues have been identified that can lead to problems during long-duration space expeditions. Several of these issues were studied during a series of missions to the International Space Station. Using a mood and group climate questionnaire that was completed weekly by crewmembers in space and personnel in mission control, we found no evidence to support the presence of predicted decrements in well-being during the second half or in any specific quarter of the missions. The results did support the predicted displacement of negative feelings to outside supervisors among both crew and ground subjects. There were several significant differences in mood and group perceptions between Americans and Russians and between crewmembers and mission control personnel. Crewmembers related cohesion to the support role of their leader, and mission control personnel related cohesion to both the task and support roles of their leader. These findings are discussed with reference to future space missions.

[1]  T. Smirnova,et al.  Interrelations between the small isolated groups with homogeneous and heterogeneous composition. , 2001, Human performance in extreme environments : the journal of the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments.

[2]  A D Kelly,et al.  Leisure time activities in space: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. , 1994, Acta astronautica.

[3]  V. V. Lebedev,et al.  Diary of a cosmonaut : 211 days in space , 1988 .

[4]  N Kanas,et al.  Social and cultural issues during Shuttle/Mir space missions. , 2000, Acta astronautica.

[5]  N Kanas,et al.  Psychiatric issues affecting long duration space missions. , 1998, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[6]  N Kanas,et al.  Crewmember and ground personnel interactions over time during Shuttle/Mir space missions. , 2001, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[7]  N Kanas,et al.  Content analysis of the crew communication with external communicants under prolonged isolation. , 1997, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[8]  J. Ritsher.  Cultural factors and the International Space Station. , 2005, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[9]  H Ursin,et al.  Interpersonal relations during simulated space missions. , 1995, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[10]  S. Zeger,et al.  Longitudinal data analysis using generalized linear models , 1986 .

[11]  R. Littell.  SAS System for Mixed Models , 1996 .

[12]  Amy Berning,et al.  The Third-Quarter Phenomenon: Do People Experience Discomfort After Stress Has Passed? , 1991 .

[13]  Y. Benjamini,et al.  Controlling the false discovery rate: a practical and powerful approach to multiple testing , 1995 .

[14]  V. Gushin,et al.  Human interactions during Shuttle/Mir space missions. , 2001, Acta astronautica.

[15]  Nick Kanas,et al.  Space Psychology and Psychiatry , 2003 .

[16]  G M Sandal,et al.  Coping in Antarctica: is it possible to generalize results across settings? , 2000, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[17]  N Kanas,et al.  Human interactions in space: results from Shuttle/Mir. , 2001, Acta astronautica.

[18]  Nick Kanas,et al.  Lessons learned from Shuttle/Mir: psychosocial countermeasures. , 2002, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[19]  Vadim Gushin,et al.  CREW - GROUND CONTROL COMMUNICATION STYLES: PRELIMINARY RESULTS , 2004 .

[20]  N Kanas,et al.  Psychosocial issues in space: results from Shuttle/Mir. , 2001, Gravitational and space biology bulletin : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology.

[21]  Rudolf H. Moos,et al.  Group environment scale manual , 1986 .

[22]  N Kanas,et al.  Subject's perceptions of the crew interaction dynamics under prolonged isolation. , 1998, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[23]  A D Kelly,et al.  Communication between space crews and ground personnel: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. , 1993, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[24]  N Kanas,et al.  Interpersonal and cultural issues involving crews and ground personnel during Shuttle/Mir space missions. , 2000, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[25]  V. Gushin,et al.  Asthenia—Does It Exist in Space? , 2001, Psychosomatic medicine.

[26]  R. Moos.  Work environment scale manual , 1986 .

[27]  A D Kelly,et al.  Crewmember communication in space: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts. , 1992, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[28]  N Kanas,et al.  Crewmember interactions during a Mir space station simulation. , 1996, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.