Delivered by Ingenta to: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee IP: 188.68.3.25 On: Wed, 24 Aug 2016 20:38:49 Copyright: Aerospace Medical Association AEROSPACE MEDICINE AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Vol. 87, No. 9 September 2016 781 RESEARCH ARTICLE L iving and working in isolated and confned extreme envi- ronments (ICEs), e.g., polar, submarine or space, are sub- ject to important constraints which can generate both positive and negative psychosocial and occupational out- comes. 15 Participation in ICEs is generally characterized by a tight program of professional tasks combining periods of high and low workloads among a restricted social and cultural group. Psychosocial and occupational factors are recognized as critical components which can impact both well-being, individual and group performance, and, consequently, mission success. 2,16,23 Although social and occupational factors are recognized as cru- cial factors in adaptation, few protocols have conjointly studied these relationships in a high fdelity ICE that provided a real operational environment characterized by imminent environ- mental threat, limited resources, difculty of access and rescue, and limited communication capabilities with the scientific controls usually reserved for laboratory facilities. Te French- Italian Concordia Station is one of three permanent all year Antarctic facilities 100% dedicated to scientifc research (along with Russia’s Vostok and the U.S. South Pole Station) and the frst to specifcally be designed as an analog facility to study human adaptation to isolated, confned extreme environments. Geographically remote at a high altitude on Dome C in the middle of Antarctica, Concordia is located in one of the coldest, windiest, and driest areas on Earth. Te winter-over period at Concordia is also longer with 9 mo of darkness and isolation compared to the 6 mo at McMurdo. Hence, this study aimed to investigate temporal patterns and mutual infuences between psychosocial and occupational dimensions and professional and multicultural issues in team members wintering-over at Concordia station in Antarctic. From the Laboratory of Socio Psychology and Management of Sport (SPMS, EA 4180), Sport Sciences Faculty of Dijon, University of Burgundy, France. Tis manuscript was received for review in June 2015. It was accepted for publication in May 2016. Address correspondence to: Michel Nicolas, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychologist, Faculté des Sciences du Sport - UFR STAPS, Université de Bourgogne, BP 27877, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France; michel.nicolas@u-bourgogne.fr. Reprint & Copyright © by the Aerospace Medical Association, Alexandria, VA. DOI: 10.3357/AMHP.4395.2016 Social, Occupational, and Cultural Adaptation During a 12-Month Wintering in Antarctica Michel Nicolas; Sheryl L. Bishop; Karine Weiss; Marvin Gaudino BACKGROUND AND METHODS : Life in isolated and confned environments (ICEs) is subject to important constraints which can generate psychosocio- logically impaired outcomes. This study investigated psychological, social, occupational, and cultural variables which are among the most important determinants in adaptation to a one-year wintering in Antarctica for 13 international subjects. RESULTS: Our fndings confrm and give further insight into the role of social (Cohesiveness, Social Support) and occupational (Implementation/Preparedness, Counterproductive Activity, Decision Latitude, and Psychological Job Demands) dimensions of adaptation to ICEs. Relationships between various social and occupational dimensions studies refected detrimental efects ranging from decrements in cohesiveness (ICE 1, M 5 4.44; ICE 7, M 5 3.33), social support (ICE 2, M 5 4.93; ICE 7, M 5 4.28), and work performance (ICE 1, M 5 4.33; ICE 6, M 5 3.5), which difered across professional status and multicultural factors. DISCUSSION: These psychosocial issues have important implications for pre-mission selection and training, monitoring and support of crews during the mission, and post-mission readaptation. Operational recommendations are suggested to improve adaptation, success, and well-being for long-duration ICE missions, e.g., to Mars and beyond. KEYWORDS: isolated environments, psychosocial issues, adaptation to extreme environments, long-duration space missions. Nicolas M, Bishop SL, Weiss K, Gaudino M. Social, occupational, and cultural adaptation during a 12-month wintering in Antarctica. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(9):781–789.