Characterizing mental, behavioural, and physical health among active duty U.S. sailors and Marines

Abstract

Introduction: Military service is ingrained with stressors that, when coupled with inadequate recuperation, can lead to poor mental and behavioural health. Measuring physical health in parallel with mental and behavioural health after prolonged exposure to stress allows for a more holistic perspective on well-being. Large health surveillance studies with military populations have focused on male army soldiers returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, creating a data diversity gap with respect to gender, branch of service, and occupational specialty. Methods: A convenience sample (N = 1,382) of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps men and women was surveyed for demographic and psychological information, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured. Results: The prevalence of moderate depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and moderate mental health problems was 9.1%, 8.0%, 14.3%, and 22.5%, respectively. Approximately 20% of participants reported alcohol abuse, and 54% met physical activity guidelines. Most had normal blood pressure, and the prevalence of hypertension was below estimates for the general adult population. Group differences for health outcomes and age, rank, tenure, military branch, and deployment status were consistently found. Negative mental health correlated with higher heart rate, alcohol use, and aggression and lower physical activity. Discussion: The assessment of this large, diverse cohort of active duty U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel complements the broader surveillance literature and holistically describes indices and outcomes for mental, behavioural, and physical health.