Coping Strategies During And After Spaceflight: Data From Retired Cosmonauts
- Paper number
IAC-14,A1,1,4,x22049
- Author
Dr. Peter Suedfeld, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Jelena Brcic, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Phyllis J. Johnson, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Vadim Gushin, Institute for Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- Year
2014
- Abstract
Coping is a dynamic physiological and psychological process in response to perceived environmental stress that functions to restore physiological homeostasis and reduce negative affect (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Thematic content analysis was employed for references to 13 well-established coping strategies in interviews of 20 retired long-duration male cosmonauts. As in previous research with other space samples (Brcic, 2009; Suedfeld, Brcic, & Legkaia, 2009) the retired cosmonauts mentioned problem-oriented strategies more frequently than emotion-oriented ones. In the present sample, Seeking Social Support, Planful Problem Solving (PPS), and Endurance/Obedience/Effort were the top three most mentioned coping strategies. Furthermore, cosmonauts who had spent more than a year in space, compared to those who had spent less than a year, also mentioned using PPS 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 will be further discussed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-14,A1,1,4,x22049.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.