Impact of Habitability on Behavioral Health and Performance in Isolation and Confinement

This manuscript is in review at Human Factors (SAGE Journals). We analyzed the relationship between habitat-impacted mood and overall mood in an isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environment. We explored the most relevant habitability factors that impact behavioral health & performance (BHP) outcomes, and how habitability changes from non-ICE to ICE environments. One mitigation strategy for behavioral health risks in long-duration spaceflight is to ensure appropriate design of the habitat. To better understand the relationship between habitat design and BHP outcomes, NASA researchers developed the Subjective Habitability & Acceptability Questionnaire (SHAQ). With data from HERA Campaigns 5 and 6 (n = 32), we compared analogous measures of mood. We explored significant aspects of habitability in each habitat area. All aspects of habitability were examined for differences across non-ICE and ICE environments. Compared to Profile of Mood States, SHAQ appears to be more sensitive to environmental, individual, and temporal differences. Comfort and Convenience significantly and positively predict BHP outcomes in all habitat areas. Most aspects of habitability were rated as inadequate, and significantly lower within ICE than non-ICE conditions. Each habitat area has a different profile of habitability aspects that should be optimized to ensure BHP wellbeing. HERA was rated lower in almost all aspects of habitability when compared to non-ICE habitat environments. Attention should be given to the aspects of habitability that are rated less-than-adequate for future habitat designs. SHAQ can be used to quantify the impact of habitability to BHP outcomes ICE environments, and capture environmental and individual thresholds to inform habitat design.