Вікові особливості психологічної адаптації українських зимівників до життєдіяльності в умовах Антарктики

Abstract

The peculiarities of winterers’ psychological adaptation to extreme conditionsof life article are discussed in the article. In winter Ukrainian polar explorers,who make researches by the directions consolidated by the State Program, staylong on the limited territory, so that they need adaptation to social isolation andpsychological deprivation. In addition, the adaptation of winterers takes placein the severe climate, and it much depends on the readiness of the participantsof expedition to the fulfillment of professional responsibilities in the extremeconditions.The aim of the article is to present theoretical bases and practical resultsof researches on age peculiarities of psychological adaptation of Ukrainianwinterers for life in Antarctic conditions on the example of the last 9 expeditionsto the Ukrainian Antarctic station «Academician Vernadskyі».Methods. The complex of methods of psychological researches ofadaptation processes of personality of a certain age is used. The experimentinvolved 70 winterers who have been in Antarctica during the year from 2011to 2019.The results of the research. The results of empirical studies on adaptationrates in winterers of different age groups for previous representatives arepresented. After the comparison of survey results during the expedition thepresence of changes in psychological characteristics was revealed. It was foundthat during the stay in Antarctica, some winterers experienced psycho-emotionalproblems, and revealed typical psychological and psychophysiological changes.It was found that the most difficult period of life was the period of the Antarcticwinter.Conclusions. The most adapted age group for life in Antarctic is proved tobe middle-aged adults aged from 35 to 45 years. The representatives of thisgroup make up about 40% of participants of the Ukrainian Antarctic expeditionsthat testifies to the sufficient level of psychological stability of wintering teams.