Coping strategies during and after spaceflight: Data from retired cosmonauts

Autor: Vadim Gushin, Jelena Brcic, Peter Suedfeld, Phyllis J. Johnson
Rok vydání: 2015
Předmět:
Zdroj: Acta Astronautica. 110:43-49
ISSN: 0094-5765
DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2014.12.011
Popis: Coping is a dynamic physiological and psychological process in response to perceived environmental stress that functions to restore physiological homeostasis and reduce negative affect [1] . Thematic content analysis was employed for references to 13 well-established coping strategies in interviews with 20 retired long-duration male cosmonauts. As in previous research with other space samples [2] , [3] the retired cosmonauts mentioned Problem-Oriented strategies more frequently than Emotion-Oriented ones. In the present sample, Seeking Social Support, Planful Problem Solving and Endurance/Obedience/Effort were the top three most mentioned coping strategies. Cosmonauts who had spent more than a year in space, compared to those who had spent less than a year, mentioned using Planful Problem Solving more as they recalled their career and retirement. Examining changes over time, spaceflight had a positive effect on Accepting Responsibility. Endurance/Obedience/Effort steadily decreased over time, while we found an inverted-U pattern for Distancing and Self-Control. Additional results in relation to other astronaut samples and the relationship between coping and post-flight growth are discussed.
Databáze: OpenAIRE