Emotional energy, work self-efficacy, and perceived similarity during the Mars 520 study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present research was to study the dynamics of changes in emotional energy, work self-efficacy and perceived similarity in the crew of the Mars 520 experimental study. METHODS: The study comprised six volunteers, all men, between 27-38 yr of age (M = 32.16; SD = 4.99). The Mars 520 experimental study simulated all the elements of the proposed Mars mission that could be ground simulated, i.e., traveling to Mars, orbiting it, landing, and returning to Earth. During the simulation, measures of emotional energy, work self-efficacy, and perceived similarity were repeated every month. The data were analyzed using linear mixed effect models. RESULTS: Emotional energy, work self-efficacy, and perceived similarity gradually increased in the course of the simulation. DISCUSSION: There was no evidence for a so-called third quarter phenomenon (the most strenuous period of group isolation, psychologically, emotionally, and socially) in our data. On the contrary, work self-efficacy, emotional energy, and group cohesion (indexed here by the subject's perceived similarity to others) increased significantly in the course of the simulation, with the latter two variables showing positive growth in the group functioning.

Effects of isolation, crowding, and different psychological countermeasures on crew behavior and performance.

Studies conducted by I. Altman in the 1960-70s revealed the increase in the individual stress level under isolation and confinement. Altman introduced the term "privacy" as a desired level of personal space that humans need to feel psychologically comfortable. The author also mentioned the dynamic process of boundary regulation that can be accompanied by the increase in conflict tension in the confined groups. In our study with short-term chamber isolation ESKIS, we analyzed behavior, crew interactions, and psychological state of a mixed-gender crew with none or minimal previous isolation experience (4 males and 2 females) who spent 14 days in a small chamber of 50 m3. The study confirmed that the pre-isolation period was particularly stressful for the subjects who felt also significant anxiety during the first days of isolation. Also, some mood and sleep disturbances were detected under isolation and crowding. Psychological stress made the crew more cohesive; they demonstrated the increase in common values. Extraverted subjects who could obtain social support from their partners and Mission Control's duty teams were less interested in psychological support via VR.

Wireless Monitoring of Changes in Crew Relations during Long-Duration Mission Simulation.

Group structure and cohesion along with their changes over time play an important role in the success of missions where crew members spend prolonged periods of time under conditions of isolation and confinement. Therefore, an objective system for unobtrusive monitoring of crew cohesion and possible individual stress reactions is of high interest. For this purpose, an experimental wireless group structure (WLGS) monitoring system integrated into a mobile psychophysiological system was developed. In the presented study the WLGS module was evaluated separately in six male subjects (27-38 years old) participating in a 520-day simulated mission to Mars. Two days per week, each crew member wore a small sensor that registered the presence and distance of the sensors either worn by the other subjects or strategically placed throughout the isolation facility. The registration between two sensors was on average 91.0% in accordance. A correspondence of 95.7% with the survey video on day 475 confirmed external reliability. An integrated score of the "crew relation time index" was calculated and analyzed over time. Correlation analyses of a sociometric questionnaire (r = .35-.55, p< .05) and an ethological group approach (r = .45-.66, p < 05) provided initial evidence of the method's validity as a measure of cohesion when taking behavioral and activity patterns into account (e.g. only including activity phases in the afternoon). This confirms our assumption that the registered amount of time spent together during free time is associated with the intensity of personal relationships.