C-STARS: Studying mental well-being in space
C-STARS explores the mental health of astronauts on long-duration space missions on the International Space Station. Canadian researchers will observe the connections between stress, coping strategies, meaningful work, and emotions like gratitude, compassion and awe.
Background
The upcoming missions to the Moon and eventually to Mars are major steps forward in space exploration. These long trips won't just test astronauts' technical skills – they'll also challenge their mental strength. Astronauts will live in small, isolated, and dangerous environments. They will depend on their crewmates for medical help and social support while managing delays in communication with Earth. This is especially difficult because they are far away from their loved ones.
Space missions are intense and risky, therefore it's important to handle challenges well. If astronauts don’t meet their mission objectives, it could lead to serious or even life-threatening problems. C-STARS researchers believe that meaningful work and emotions like gratitude, compassion and awe can offer pathways to better cope with stress during spaceflight and help with readaptation after the mission ends.
Objectives
This study will:
- seek to understand the impact of spaceflight on coping strategies and emotions
- explore how astronauts experience meaningfulness in work and life during spaceflight
- examine the types of coping strategies used during spaceflight and how they can shape the perception of stress, influence daily emotional experiences, and affect performance outcomes
- generate knowledge about the effects of spaceflight on emotions like awe and compassion and how they may positively impact performance, physical health, and psychological well-being during and after missions
- investigate how personal traits and psychological resources play a role in resilience during and after spaceflight and may contribute to long-term psychological growth and adaptation
- identify how coping strategies and emotions impact physical health
Impacts on Earth
The knowledge acquired by researchers during C-STARS could be applied to other professions that deal with high-stakes situations, in remote locations or confined environments. For example, military, search and rescue teams, and firefighters work in high-pressure situations that require teamwork, resilience and the ability to make quick decisions. Understanding how to foster mental health and well-being has a positive benefit for these professionals in stressful environments.
How it works
- Data will be collected before, during and after the mission.
- Astronauts will answer predetermined questions along with diary-like writing prompts throughout their mission. They will also have their physical health monitored.
- This research will provide deeper insights into how astronauts manage stress, experience meaningfulness, and achieve psychological growth, as well as how these factors impact their well-being during long-duration space missions.
Up to eight astronauts will participate in the project.
Timeline
C-STARS began in fall , and data analysis will continue through .
Astronauts need to stay mentally well and focused to keep themselves, their crew and spacecraft safe. As we prepare to return to the Moon and eventually travel to Mars, the impact on astronauts' mental health will be even greater. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Research team
Principal investigator
- Dr. Jelena Brcic, University of the Fraser Valley
Co-investigator
- Dr. Jennifer Stellar, University of Toronto
- Dr. Jason M. Harley, McGill University
- Dr. Kirsten Robertson, Brock University
Student
- Patrick Nicoll, University of Victoria