Correlation between the functional status and viability in the subjects involved in extreme activities

Aim. The article deals with the analysis of the psychophysiological status and its correlations with the features of viability in experts working in extreme and challenging conditions. This is both relevant and essential for justifying the author's approach to a bio, -psycho, -social model of viability. Materials and methods. 764 male participants working in extreme conditions were examined (military aircraft personnel, civil air traffic controllers, Navy men, firefighters, etc.). The following methods were used for the study: the simple and complex eye-motor response test, the S-test, the burnout assessment based on the Boyko's method, and a subjective assessment of professional load. The results obtained were processed with Spearman correlation analysis. Results. Based on the results of correlation analysis, significant correlations were revealed between the psychophysiological features of participants and a subjective assessment of extreme load being the component of professional viability. It was established that the functional status of the subjects involved in extreme activities affected negatively their subjective assessment of professional load producing an increase in stress. At the same time, the speed of mental operations and visual perception abilities decreased. Conclusion. The efficient application of psychophysiological reserves while preserving speed and reliability determines constructive professional genesis and is connected with the parameters of viability such as anxiety, depression, inadequate selective emotional response, disorientation, and the reduction of professional responsibilities.