A comparison of homogeneous male and female teams in a Mars simulation

Introduction: International interest in psychosocial group functioning has increased as focus has shifted towards longer duration spaceflight and, particularly, the issues involved in sending a human crew to Mars. The current study investigates the role of gender, personality, group identity and stress on individual and group performance, motivation and behavior and psychological well being. Methods: Two six person homogeneous gendered international teams (i.e., all male and all female) conducted back-to-back Mars simulation missions late in the 2005 field season at the Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, USA. All participants were administered measures of personality, personal and group functioning, subjective stress and salivary samples taken to measure cortisol levels. Results: The relationships between personality, group identification and stress were examined through a variety of descriptive, correlational and nonparametric approaches. Differences in Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were found between males (lower) and females (higher) as well as Competitiveness (males higher). Group identity with mission goals was aligned largely along gender lines with females displaying higher alignment with mission objectives. Mismatches between subjective stress and cortisol assessment were found for the first half of the mission for men whereas females were congruent across the entire mission.