Assocations between human psychophysiological conditions and duration of stay in high Arctic

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess associations between psychophysiological- and physiological state of the human body and the duration of stay in high Arctic. Barentsburg, the Spitsbergen archipelago. Methods. Altogether, 112 people aged 35-43 years from Barentsburg (Spitsbergen or Svalbard) were examined. By duration of stay they were dichotomized into two grous: ≤ 6 months (group 1, n = 60) and > 6 months (group 2, n = 52). Psychoemotional state was studied using Spielberger anxiety scale and the differentiated self-assessment of the functional state (SAN) test. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed using the «Omega-M» complex. The two groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U-tests. Results. Spectral analysis data in the range of HF, ms2, LF, ms2, and TP, ms2 and in normalized units were below the standard values. In group 1 there was a decrease in well-being (U = 200.5, p = 0.032) and mood (U = 207.0, p = 0.043). In group 2 there was an increase in the level of personal anxiety (U = 245.0, p = 0.002). In the group with a moderate predominance of central regulation an increase in LF, ms2 power spectrum was found in group 1 (U = 9.0, p = 0.006). In group 2 we observed a decrease in RMSSD (U = 27.0, p = 0.001) and SDNN (U = 48.0, p = 0.023) combined with an increase in SI (U = 49.0, p = 0.027) in the group with a pronounced predominance of the central contour of regulation. In a group with a moderate predominance of autonomous regulation we found an increase in SI (U = 226.0, p = 0.029) in group 1 while high TR i, ms2 (U = 218.0, p = 0.020), VLF, ms2 (U = 216.0, p = 0.018) were observed in group 2. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated a complex effect of stay in the High Arctic on the psycho-emotional state and HRV in both newcomers and long-term residents.