Mindfulness disposition as a protective factor against stress in Antarctica: A potential countermeasure for long-duration spaceflight?

Long-duration missions in isolated, confined, and extreme environments, including Antarctica and upcoming deep-space operations, can be a source of increased stress. The identification of countermeasures and protective factors is required to support health and performance in similar contexts. Mindfulness disposition is an optimal candidate, but no research has ever explored this potential association. Twenty-four crew members from two Antarctic expeditions at the Concordia base were repeatedly assessed over the course of a 12-month mission for stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and mindfulness, using multiple assessment measures, including the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS), the Breath Counting Task, and the Triangle Task. Results indicate a strong negative association over time between mindfulness and stress, particularly when measured with the MAAS and the LMS. Higher MAAS baseline values were also good predictors of lower stress patterns during the mission. Mindfulness disposition was negatively associated with stress over time, suggesting that it can play an important role in stress mitigation in isolated and confined environments, including long-duration space missions. Furthermore, a mindfulness assessment could be added to the crew selection procedure. • In the isolated, confined, and extreme Antarctic environment, mindfulness was strongly associated with reduced stress levels throughout a year-long mission. • Higher pre-departure mindfulness disposition scores were predictive of lower distress levels. • Mindfulness emerged as a crucial psychological factor for sustaining the well-being of crews in isolated, confined, and extreme environments. • The assessment of mindfulness could be a valuable consideration in selecting crews for extended missions in isolated and confined environments. • This Antarctic analogue study suggests that mindfulness could be a countermeasure for long-duration space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]