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Research led by the University of Zurich followed 12 people for ten months at the Concordia Station in Antarctica and indicates that constant physical contact in isolated environments can increase conflicts, distrust, and social fragmentation in teams subjected to long missions.
An international study led by researchers from the University of Zurich followed 12 crew members for ten months at the Concordia Station in Antarctica and showed that, in isolated missions, constant physical proximity can increase conflicts, distrust, and a decline in perceived performance.
Antarctica shows limits of extreme coexistence
The research investigated how teams continue to function when living together for long periods, with little privacy and limited contact with the outside world. The work was conducted by Jan Schmutz from the University of Zurich and Andrea Cantisani from the University of Bern.
The Concordia Station was used as a model for missions to the Moon or Mars. In winter, the location records temperatures of minus 80 °C, a condition that reinforces its role as an extreme environment.
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More contact did not mean support
During the mission, participants answered questionnaires at four moments. They also used wearable sensors capable of recording when and for how long they were close to team members.
The data indicated that frequent contact did not bring integration. Crew members physically close reported conflicts, increased distrust, and reduced perceived performance.
Schmutz stated that, in small teams and under extreme conditions, more contact does not automatically equate to social support and can increase tensions. The analyses are correlational and do not allow for conclusions of cause and effect.
Subgroups grew in the mission
The sensors also revealed the gradual formation of subgroups. Over time, crew members sought out people of the same language or nationality, a pattern that can offer support in stressful situations.
This movement can increase the risk of social fragmentation and weaken cohesion in multicultural teams. For long missions, the finding reinforces the importance of identifying social changes from the start.
The conclusions are of interest to space programs, submarines, offshore platforms, and remote stations. The study showed that proximity sensors work in extreme conditions and can monitor routines without significant interference.
The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
