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A 7-Day Space Habitat Simulated Task: Using a Projection-Based Natural Environment to Improve Psychological Health in Short-Term Isolation Confinement

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Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics (HCII 2023)

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Abstract

Due to prolonged missions in isolated, enclosed, and extreme (ICE) environments, astronauts are exposed to complex stressors that can easily negatively impact psychological states, increase the risk of undesirable behaviors, and jeopardize mission success. Yet long-term journeys will limit the use of existing psychological countermeasures. We are concerned about the long-term mental health of astronauts, and for this reason, we conducted a 7-day controlled experiment in Xiangtan Central Hospital, conducting an isolation simulation to compare the effectiveness of a projection-based virtual natural environment for psychological interventions. 20 participants (10 males and 10 females) were randomized into two groups: the intervention group was exposed to an environment with virtual natural environment projections, and the control group maintained a monotonous indoor environment. Changes in participants’ anxiety levels before and after the experiment, as well as their positive and negative emotional states on days 1, 4, and 7, were recorded. The results of the study showed that negative emotions and anxiety continued to increase and positive emotions decreased over time for all participants. However, differences between groups suggest that a natural environment based on projections can be effective in reducing negative mental states in solitary confinement states. This paper will help inform habitat habitability design and psychological responses in future long-term missions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China

    Xinyu He

  2. Imperial College London, London, UK

    Ao Jiang

  3. EuroMoonMars ILEWG at ESA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Xinyu He & Ao Jiang

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  1. Xinyu He
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  2. Ao Jiang
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  1. Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Don Harris

  2. Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK

    Wen-Chin Li

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He, X., Jiang, A. (2023). A 7-Day Space Habitat Simulated Task: Using a Projection-Based Natural Environment to Improve Psychological Health in Short-Term Isolation Confinement. In: Harris, D., Li, WC. (eds) Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 14017. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35392-5_31

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