Teams in space need social support

(CONNECT) An international study led by Jan Schmutz, professor at the Institute of Psychology at the University of Zurich(UZH), and Andrea Cantisani, psychiatrist and research associate at the University of Bern, has investigated how the coexistence of teams changes in isolation, confinement and under extreme stress. According to a UZH report, a crew of twelve was equipped with sensors during their ten-month mission at Concordia Station in the Antarctic interior. They recorded when and for how long team members were close to each other.

In addition, the crew members answered a psychological questionnaire at four different times during their stay in one of the most remote places in the world with temperatures as low as minus 80 degrees. This enabled the researchers to track how social relationships, loneliness, mistrust, conflicts, cohesion and self-perception of one's own performance developed over the course of the mission.

According to the study, it was particularly noticeable that more closeness did not automatically have a positive effect. This means that in highly restrictive living spaces, it is not only isolation that can be stressful, but also constant proximity. "In small teams under extreme conditions, more contact does not automatically mean more social support, but can even increase tensions," Jan Schmutz is quoted as saying.

In addition, subgroups of people of the same language or nationality increasingly formed. Although this can provide support and orientation, it also harbors the risk of social fragmentation and can weaken cohesion in multicultural teams.

The study is particularly relevant for future long-term missions in space, but also for other extreme working environments such as submarines or platforms on the high seas. "The results show," says Schmutz, "how important it is to recognize social dynamics early on and provide teams with targeted support." ce/mm