Diagnosis of age-related differences in the motivational component of professional activity in extreme conditions of Antarctic expeditions

Abstract

Introduction. Today, it is becoming common for people of different ages to choose complex and risky activities. Knowledge of the leading risky activities motives and their age-related differences is important, in particular, for the selection of polar expedition teams and various sports team-members etc. and their effective training. Aim: to determine and categorize by age the leading motives of Ukrainian polar explorers’ professional activity. Methods: generalization and systematization of different age groups; Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP®) to study the individual’s motivational environment based on the hierarchy of desires. Results. According to their age, the members of the Ukrainian Academician Vernadsky Antarctic Station expeditions were divided into the following groups: the young group (22 through 34 years old), the middle-aged group (35 through 45 years old), and the senior group (46 through 62 years old). For all age groups, the spiritual motive was shown to be the leading motive for work in extreme environment, while the social motive and the financial motive were the second- and third-leading motives for work in extreme environment respectively. Conclusions. The results of the study can be helpful in organizing extreme and sports activities of people of various age categories.