Challenging Journeys: Stress, Coping and Expeditions

PhD (part time)

Start date: 2012

Progress: Submitted (awaiting corrections viva)

Director of Studies: Dr. Erica Cook

Second supervisor: Professor Andrew Guppy

Summary:

Expeditions are commonly referred to as “a journey with a purpose”; such endeavours whether scientific, educational or exploratory, involve considerable physical and psychological challenges. Expeditioners face considerable risk, uncertainty and adventure which may be regarded as stressful. However, there is little empirical evidence from expedition contexts that draw upon psychological disciplines to support these ambitious claims. The aim of my research is to explore the relevance of stress and coping to the expedition experience and consider the significance of these processes to help understand the meaningfulness of these journeys.

A qualitative methodology is used to generate rich, ecologically valid information to consider how stress is perceived by participants and how the appraisal of coping capacities is influenced emotion, behaviour and cognition. A range of methods that included: semi-structured interviews, diaries and conceptual mapping, coping flexibility questionnaires and real-time, momentary experience capture. Expeditions in Greenland, Norway, Iceland and the Pyrenees provide a rich description and personal narratives showing that specific coping behaviours and cognitions help manage difficult and extreme situations. Adventure participants may deliberately seek challenging and sometimes dangerous situations. This indicates that adventure and novel environments, contribute towards what truly defines the meaningfulness of these experiences.

Contact: danny.golding@beds.ac.uk