A Quick Mindfulness Training for an Isolated and Confined Environment

NCT06775249 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: CERPS_12-24
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The MINDFUL-ICE II project explores the significance of mindfulness as a psychological trait crucial for extended missions in isolated and confined environments (ICEs). Previous data from the MINDFUL-ICE study with Concordia base crews validated a link between dispositional mindfulness and reduced stress. However, the efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention in mitigating distress and fostering psychological adaptation within such environments remains untested. This project aims to assess a specific mindfulness training program's efficacy, feasibility, and usability for Concordia base crews over a two-year assignment. The pre-departure online mindfulness training, tailored for the pre-mission period, will feature minimal time commitments. Bi-weekly booster sessions during the mission, conducted by the ESA MD, will support the training. Using a quasi-experimental design, crews receiving this intervention will be compared with the first MINDFUL-ICE study's results. Stress, mindfulness, and psychological data will be tracked throughout the winter-over mission, aligning with the assessment approach of the initial study. Participants will report program usage, acquired knowledge, and engage in post-mission qualitative interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative findings will be crucial in gauging the intervention's effectiveness and usability for future long-duration and ICE space missions.

Conditions

Winter Crew At Concordia Station

Keywords

Isolated and Confined Environment; Mindfulness; Antarctica; Space Psychology

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Stress

  Stress will be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, a validated 10-item self-report measure. Individual scores on the scale can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived.

  Up to 12 months.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Mindful Attention

  Up to 12 months.

• Langerian Mindfulness

  Up to 12 months.

• Mindul Creativity

  Up to 12 months (baseline and post-mission assessments).

Other Outcomes (1)

• Program Engagement

  Continuously during the mission, post-mission.

Study Arms (2)

Mindfulness-Based Training Program

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention includes a three-week pre-departure online mindfulness course with bi-weekly booster sessions during the mission. Training focuses on stress reduction and fostering psychological flexibility, openness, and creativity.

Behavioral: ICE Mindfulness Program

Historical data from MINDFUL-ICE I participants

NO INTERVENTION

The control group comprises data collected from participants in the MINDFUL-ICE I study (an observational cohort). These participants were winter-over crew members at Concordia Station, Antarctica, during earlier missions and did not receive any mindfulness-based intervention.

Interventions

ICE Mindfulness Program BEHAVIORAL

The ICE Mindfulness Program is a tailored, self-paced intervention designed for crew members in isolated and confined environments. It includes a three-week pre-departure online course with videos, audio, and cognitive exercises promoting mindfulness, flexibility, and creativity, requiring 15-30 minutes daily. Delivered via email, it blends elements from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and the Langerian approach. Participants receive new content daily, focusing on stress reduction and adaptation in extreme settings. Pre-departure, the PI leads a 1.5-hour interactive session with group meditation. During the mission, bi-weekly booster sessions are conducted by the ESA MD, supplemented by ongoing access to training materials. Exercises include meditations, mindful discussions, and cognitive tasks, with flexibility to fit participant schedules. The program will be available in Italian, French, and English.

Mindfulness-Based Training Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Winter crew at the Concordia Station, in Antarctica

You may not qualify if:

• N/A

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Catholic University of the Sacred Heart: lead
• ASI Agenzia Spaziale Italiana: collaborator
• European Space Agency (ESA): collaborator
• Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide (PNRA): collaborator
• Institut Polaire Français Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Concordia Station

Antarctica, Antarctica

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Pagnini, F., Thoolen, S., Smith, N., Van Ombergen, A., Grosso, F., Langer, E., & Phillips, D. (2024). Mindfulness disposition as a protective factor against stress in Antarctica: A potential countermeasure for long-duration spaceflight?. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 94, 102254.

  BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Clinical Psychology

Model Details: The study will use a quasi-experimental design with a quali-quantitative approach. Specifically, two winter-over crews will receive the mindfulness training, before and during the mission (experimental group). They will be assessed for stress, mindfulness, and psychosocial adaptation during the whole mission. Results will be compared with those collected during the MINDFUL-ICE study representing the control group. Moreover, participants will be monitored during the mission for their use of the intervention and will provide qualitative data about the usability and the efficacy of the mindfulness intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 2, 2025
• First Posted: January 15, 2025
• Study Start: October 8, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AN (1)