[Need for Security and Stress Coping Strategies of Participants from The XXXI Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the behavior, psychological changes, and stress management of polar expedition members in the specialist literature. The need for security as the primary motivation of the individual is one of the personality parameters that significantly influence behavior strategies and the adaptation process, especially in situations of potential threat, tension, and risk. The present study aims to investigate the need for security as a basic motivation of the personality, the primary stress factors, and the preferred coping strategies of the participants in the XXXI Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition on Livingstone Island. The study involved 28 participants from the XXXI Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition aged 33 to 71. 1) Methodology for the study of the need for security in the behavior of the individual – Bulgarian validation of the test by A. Velichkov et al. 1998; 2) Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced scale (COPE – 1, Carver et al. 1989), adapted for Bulgarian conditions (Georgiev et al. 2003); 3) Methodology for investigating the sources of stress in participants in Antarctic expeditions. The majority of participants had a low level of need for security. Significant differences were found according to the level of need for security regarding the Climatic conditions and work mode stress factor. Prior experience significantly influenced preferred coping strategies, Climatic conditions, and work mode stress factors. The results can support adaptation and adequate preventive actions to reduce psychological distress in participants.