The data on psychological adaptation during polar winter-overs in Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic stations

Abstract

The data presented in this article relate to the research article entitled “assessing psychological adaptation during polar winter-overs: The isolated and confined environments questionnaire (ICE-Q)” [1]. These data were acquired in order to develop a standardized instrument – the ICE-Q – designed to assess psychological adaptation within isolated, confined, and extreme environments. A total of 140 winterers from several sub-Antarctic (Amsterdam, Crozet, Kerguelen) and Antarctic (Concordia, Terre Adélie) stations voluntarily participated. Data were collected by multiple self-report questionnaires including a wide variety of well-known and validated questionnaires to record the winterers’ responses to polar stations. Data were gathered across two or three winter seasons within each of the 5 polar stations to ensure sufficiently large sample. From four to seven measurement time along a one-year period were proposed to the participants, resulting in 479 momentary assessments. Results of exploratory factor analyses, confirmatory factor analyses, exploratory structural equation modelling, reliability analyses, and test-retest provided strong evidence for the construct validity of the ICE-Q (19–item 4-factor questionnaire). The four factors were social, emotional, occupational and physical. Future studies would examine the dynamic of psychological adaptation in isolated, confined and/or extreme environments during polar missions. Keywords: Emotional changes, Extreme environment, Isolated and confined environment, Occupational investment, Physical fatigue, Polar stations, Psychological adaptation, Social relationships