open access
Diving under the influence: issues in researching personality and inert gas narcosis
open access
Abstract
Background: This paper considers the relationship between measures of personality and mood states, and susceptibility to inert gas narcosis. It briefly reviews the topics of inert gas narcosis affecting personality, and personality affecting the susceptibility to inert gas narcosis. There appears to be is a theoretical argument for a possible relationship between measures of personality, mood states, and susceptibility to narcosis. Practically, such a relationship may speak to issues in selection, training and preparation, risk assessments, and even accident investigation in the diving and/or hyperbaric environment.
Materials and methods: Twenty one divers completed measures of personality and mood states, and were then compressed to 709 kPa (equivalent to 60 msw) in a dry compression chamber, where they completed a task measuring speed of information processing, and a scale measuring subjective narcosis.
Results and Conclusions: The main finding was the absence of any significant correlations between measures of personality traits and mood, and susceptibility to inert gas narcosis. Although the study found no evidence of any major relationship, it is presented as a case study to highlight some of the issues and pitfalls involved in such research. The lessons learned — including the careful defining and describing of concepts, and choosing of samples and measurements — are used to discuss some of the methodological and conceptual issues and future directions for researchers to consider.
Abstract
Background: This paper considers the relationship between measures of personality and mood states, and susceptibility to inert gas narcosis. It briefly reviews the topics of inert gas narcosis affecting personality, and personality affecting the susceptibility to inert gas narcosis. There appears to be is a theoretical argument for a possible relationship between measures of personality, mood states, and susceptibility to narcosis. Practically, such a relationship may speak to issues in selection, training and preparation, risk assessments, and even accident investigation in the diving and/or hyperbaric environment.
Materials and methods: Twenty one divers completed measures of personality and mood states, and were then compressed to 709 kPa (equivalent to 60 msw) in a dry compression chamber, where they completed a task measuring speed of information processing, and a scale measuring subjective narcosis.
Results and Conclusions: The main finding was the absence of any significant correlations between measures of personality traits and mood, and susceptibility to inert gas narcosis. Although the study found no evidence of any major relationship, it is presented as a case study to highlight some of the issues and pitfalls involved in such research. The lessons learned — including the careful defining and describing of concepts, and choosing of samples and measurements — are used to discuss some of the methodological and conceptual issues and future directions for researchers to consider.
Keywords
nitrogen narcosis, personality, mood states, diving, hyperbaric
About this articleTitle
Diving under the influence: issues in researching personality and inert gas narcosis
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
52-59
Published online
2017-03-30
Page views
1938
Article views/downloads
1987
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
IMH 2017;68(1):52-59.
Keywords
nitrogen narcosis
personality
mood states
diving
hyperbaric
Authors
Charles H. Van Wijk
Jarred H. Martin
Willem A.J. Meintjes
References (39)- Biersner RJ, Edwards D, Bailey LW. Effects of N2O on responses of divers to personality tests. Percept Mot Skills. 1974; 38(3): 1091–1097.
- Lippmann J. The Essentials of Deeper Sport Diving: An Overview of the Theory and Requirements of Deeper Diving. Locust Valley, NY: Aqua Quest Publications. ; 1992.
- APA. Personality [internet]. 2015. Available from. http://www.apa.org/topics/personality/ (cited 01 June 2016).
- Kazdin AE. editor. Encyclopaedia of Psychology. Washington: American Psychological Association. ; 2000.
- Bennett PB. Inert Gas Narcosis. In: Bennett P, Elliott D, editors. The Physiology and Medicine of Diving. London: WB Saunders Comany Ltd. ; 1993 p. : 170–193.
- Lowry C. Inert gas narcosis. In: Edmonds C, Pennefather J, Walker R, editor4s. Diving and Subaquatic Medicine. London: Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd. ; 2002 p : 183–193.
- De Br, Taylor N. Personality assessment. In: Foxcroft C, Roodt G, editors. Introduction to sychological assessment in the South African context, 4th ed. Cae Town: Oxford University Press; 2013. p. : 185–199.
- Westmaas J, Moeller S, Woicik PB. Validation of a measure of college students' intoxicated behaviors: associations with alcohol outcome expectancies, drinking motives, and personality. J Am Coll Health. 2007; 55(4): 227–237.
- Baddeley A, Idzikowski C. Anxiety, manual dexterity and diver performance. Ergonomics. 1985; 28(10): 1475–1482.
- Davis FM, Osborne JP, Baddeley AD, et al. Diver performance: nitrogen narcosis and anxiety. Aerosp Med. 1972; 43(10): 1079–1082.
- Kneller W, Higham P, Hobbs M. Measuring Manual Dexterity and Anxiety in Divers Using a Novel Task at 35–41 m. Aviation, Space, Environl Med. 2012; 83(1): 54–57.
- Mears JD, Cleary PJ. Anxiety as a factor in underwater performance. Ergonomics. 1980; 23(6): 549–557.
- Hobbs M, Kneller W. Anxiety and psychomotor performance in divers on the surface and underwater at 40 m. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2011; 82(1): 20–25.
- Fowler B, Ackles KN, Porlier G. Effects of inert gas narcosis on behavior--a critical review. Undersea Biomed Res. 1985; 12(4): 369–402.
- Sawatzky D. Is diving addictive? Diver Magazine. [internet]. 2012. Available from. http://divermag.com/is-diving-addictive/ ([cited 01 June 2016).
- Digman JM. Personality Structure: Emergence of the Five-Factor Model. Annual Review of Psychology. 1990; 41(1): 417–440.
- Goldberg L. The structure of phenotypic personality traits. Am Psychologist. 1993; 48(1): 26–34.
- Spielberger C, Reheiser E. Assessment of Emotions: Anxiety, Anger, Depression, and Curiosity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 2009; 1(3): 271–302.
- Lane A, Terry P. The Nature of Mood: Development of a Conceptual Model with a Focus on Depression. J Applied Sport Psychol. 2000; 12(1): 16–33.
- John OP, Donahue EM, Kentle RL. The Big Five Inventory--Versions 4a and 54. Berkeley, CA: University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Personality and Social Research. ; 1991.
- John OP, Naumann LP, Soto CJ. Paradigm shift to the integrative Big Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and conceptual issues. In: John OP, Robins RW, Pervin LA, editors. Handbook of personality: Theory and research. New York, NY: Guilford Press;. 2008: p. 114–158.
- Spielberger CD. Preliminary manual for the State-Trait Personality Inventory. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida. ; 1996.
- Terry PC, Lane AM, Fogarty GJ. Construct validity of the Profile of Mood States — Adolescents for use with adults. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2003; 4(2): 125–139.
- Terry PC, Lane AM, Lane HJ, et al. Development and validation of a mood measure for adolescents. J Sports Sci. 1999; 17(11): 861–872.
- Wechsler D. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 3rd ed. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment. ; 1997.
- Mitrushina MN, Boone KB, Razan J. D’Elia LF. Handbook of normative data for neuropsychological assessment, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ; 2005.
- Pereira DR, Costa P, Cerqueira JJ. Repeated Assessment and Practice Effects of the Written Symbol Digit Modalities Test Using a Short Inter-Test Interval. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2015; 30(5): 424–434.
- van Wijk CH, Meintjes WAJ. Subjective Narcosis Assessment Scale: measuring the subjective experience of nitrogen narcosis. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2014; 41(6): 557–563.
- Musa G, Seng W, Thirumoorthi T, et al. The Influence of Scuba Divers' Personality, Experience, and Demographic Profile on their Underwater Behavior. Tourism Marine Envir. 2011; 7(1): 1–14.
- Srivastava S, John O, Gosling S, et al. Development of personality in early and middle adulthood: Set like plaster or persistent change? J Personality Social Psychology. 2003; 84(5): 1041–1053.
- Devonport TJ, Lane AM, Hanin YL. Emotional States of athletes prior to performance-induced injury. J Sports Sci Med. 2005; 4(4): 382–394.
- Beckman TJ, Lall R, Johnson WB. Salient personality characteristics among Navy divers. Mil Med. 1996; 161(12): 717–719.
- Van Wijk C, Waters AH. Personality characteristics of South African navy divers. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2001; 28(1): 25–30.
- Harding S, Bryson P, Perfect T. Investigating the relationship between simulated depth, cognitive functions and metacognitive awareness. Research Report 256. Plymouth: Diving Diseases Research Centre. ; 2004.
- Fowler B, Ackles KN. Narcotic effects in man of breathing 80-20 argon-oxygen and air under hyperbaric conditions. Aerosp Med. 1972; 43(11): 1219–1224.
- Hamilton K, Laliberté MF, Heslegrave R. Subjective and behavioral effects associated with repeated exposure to narcosis. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1992; 63(10): 865–869.
- Costa PT, McCrae RR. Revised NEO personality inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO five-factor inventory (NEO FFI): Professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. ; 1992.
- McNair DM, Lorr M, Droppleman LF. Revised manual for the Profile of Mood States. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Services. ; 1992.
- Watson D, Clark LA. The PANAS-X: Manual for the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form. University of Iowa’s Institutional Repository; 1994. . http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=psychology_pubs (Retrieved on 01 June 2016).
