Accession Number:

ADA630631

Title:

Sleep Disturbances in U.S. Soldiers after Deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2010

Corporate Author:

GENEVA FOUNDATION TACOMA WA

Personal Author(s):

• Garner, Betty K.

Report Date:

2010-11-11

Pagination or Media Count:

45.0

Abstract:

Introduction Over one million U.S. military personnel have been deployed since 2001 in support of overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The deployment environment is filled with uncertainty and a heightened sense of awareness for survival that may impact sleep quality. Research in deployed military personnel has focused on the prevalence of psychiatric problems, but few data are available on the extent of disturbed sleep that may place soldiers at risk both for psychiatric and physical morbidity. The frequency of sleep disturbances SD and associated factors in U. S. soldiers were assessed at two different time points after return from deployment. Method A convenience sample of U.S. soldiers n278, ages 18-60 years completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index PSQI, Post Deployment Health Assessment, perceived stress scale PSS, and combat exposure scale immediately upon return from deployment PD1 and 1.5 months later PD2. Results Approximately 76 of participants had a mean score of greater than 5 on PSQI at both time points, indicating a high prevalence of SD in soldiers after deployment. In PD1, the total variance explained by the hierarchical multiple regression was 41.1, F18, 2027.84, p less than .001 with PSS beta .28, p less than .001, symptoms of physical illness PI beta .24, p.001, personal history beta.23, p less than .001, and rank beta.14- 18, ps less than .05 contributing significantly in the final model. In PD2, the total variance was 48.4, F18, 1198.14, p less than .001 with PSTD beta 30, p less than .01, rank beta.21-.22, ps less than .05, and personal history of SD beta.20, p greater than .01 contributing significantly in the final model. Conclusion Deployed soldiers have a high prevalence of SD. Significant predictors at both time points include rank and a personal history of SD.

Descriptors:

• *DEPLOYMENT
• *MILITARY PERSONNEL
• *SLEEP DEPRIVATION
• AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT
• DEMOGRAPHY
• EXPOSURE(PHYSIOLOGY)
• IRAQI WAR
• MENTAL HEALTH
• MILITARY MEDICINE
• MORBIDITY
• POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
• PREDICTIONS
• PSYCHIATRY
• RANK ORDER STATISTICS
• REGRESSION ANALYSIS
• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• WARFARE

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Medicine and Medical Research
• Military Forces and Organizations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE