0341 Men and Women Veterans’ Military Experiences and Associated Risk of Insomnia

Abstract

Introduction: Experiences during military deployment may predispose Veterans to symptoms of insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking early) following discharge. The most recent cohort of Veterans (OEF/OIF/OND) is diverse, including a high percentage of women exposed to combat conditions. It is crucial to determine which service-related experiences are associated with insomnia after discharge and potential sex differences in those relations. Methods: Women Veterans' Cohort Study participants (N=802, Mage=43.77, 53% women) self-reported demographics, health, and military service. Hierarchical multiple regression examined the influence of service-related experiences on insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index). Age, sex, race, education, BMI, and chronic pain were entered first as controls. Deployment preparation and combat experiences [Deployment Risk & Resilience Inventory-2], number of deployments, traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD Checklist-Military]) were added next. Regressions were conducted by sex to assess within-group relations. Results: Simple and full models both predicted insomnia (F(8,793)=11.19, R2=.10, p