Dynamics of indicators of adaptation to life in the Antarctica among polar explorers of different age groups

The scientific developments of domestic and foreign researchers dealing with the problem of adaptation to life in extreme conditions are analysed. The relevance of the article stems from the fact that Ukraine is one of the 29 countries in the world that has a permanent scientific station in Antarctica. Since 1995, Ukraine has had the opportunity to conduct longitudinal research under the State Targeted Scientific and Technical Research Program in Antarctica. The main issue of the direction of medical and physiological research, within which our scientific work takes place, is the psychological training of Ukrainian winterers who stay for a long time (12–13 months) at the Antarctic station. The concept of psychological adaptation to life in extreme conditions is specified; the types of accentuations of Ukrainian winterers are determined; methodological tools of psychological research are presented. The main accentuations that are characteristic of winterers of different age groups are highlighted, and the peculiarities of personality behaviour with different types of accentuations are outlined. The analysis of the research on the role of winterers’ accentuation in the process of adaptation to extreme living conditions being conducted during 10 years has showed that the main types of accentuation in the winterers are as follows: hyperthymic, emotional, stuck and demonstrative. These accentuations of character mainly contribute to the successful psychological adaptation of winterers to life in Antarctica. The types of accentuations (conformity, dysthymia, anxiety, instability, schizoid orientation), which may interfere with psychological adaptation, has a small percentage of representation in the winterers, or are not represented at all. The results of the study have proved that the psychological adaptation of Ukrainian winterers to extreme conditions has a complex hierarchical structure and is formed on the basis of individual qualities and the influence of appropriate natural, interpersonal and professional conditions. Such results enable defining new criteria for psychophysiological and psychological monitoring and forecasting concerning personality adaptation to extreme living conditions.