A Quick Mindfulness Training for an Isolated and Confined Environment

Launched by CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE SACRED HEART · Jan 9, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

MINDFUL-ICE II is a study to see if a short mindfulness training can help crews cope with stress during a long, isolated winter in Antarctica. The program starts with a three-week online mindfulness course before departure, then bi-weekly booster sessions during the mission. Researchers will compare participants who receive the training with data from the previous MINDFUL-ICE study (used as a control). They will track stress levels, mindfulness, and how well people adapt psychologically during the mission, as well as how the program is used and how useful participants find it.

About 24 adult winter crew members at Concordia Station could take part. Eligibility includes being 18 years or older and part of the Concordia winter crew; no specific exclusion criteria are listed. The study is not randomized and uses historical data as a comparison. Participants will complete brief questionnaires measuring stress, mindfulness, and creative thinking for up to 12 months after the mission, plus a post-mission interview about their experiences with the program. Enrollment is by invitation and results are expected around 2026. The program is a behavioral training (not a drug or device) available in Italian, French, and English.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Winter crew at the Concordia Station, in Antarctica
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • N/A