Facilitators of wellbeing during spaceflight and military missions: Salutogenic and evocative properties of food and personal items for human adaptability

Abstract Optimised human performance in isolated and extreme environments requires sophisticated survival systems and is subject to several shared stressors. However, a positive psychology framework for human adaptability optimisation allows for a salutogenic approach that considers performance as affected by perceived wellbeing. This study investigates the salutogenic and evocative properties of food consumption and personal objects during spaceflight and military missions, hypothesising that emotionally significant food and objects may influence wellbeing and reduce the adverse symptoms of homesickness, isolation and sensory hunger. The exploratory research involved N = 53 participants, including N = 25 Italian military personnel and N = 28 astronauts from international backgrounds. Participants completed a qualitative online survey, and analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s inductive thematic analysis model. Data analysis revealed five main themes addressing the evocative and functional properties of objects and food, self-perceived post-mission changes in food and objects attachment, psychosocial growth and behavioural changes observed by others. Results indicated that food and objects-related themes strongly or moderately supported the hypothesis, while hypothesised post-mission psychosocial and behavioural changes lacked sufficient evidence. The evocative and salutogenic role of food and objects during missions was found to significantly influence wellbeing, highlighting the need for a positive framework in survival psychology.