Prevalence, correlates, and predictors of insomnia in the US army prior to deployment

105Citations
Citations of this article
239Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Study Objectives: To determine the prevalence, correlates, and predictors of insomnia in US Army personnel prior to deployment. Methods: Cross-sectional cohort design assessing insomnia and other psychosocial variables in active duty service members (n = 4,101), at Fort Hood, Texas, prior to military deployment. Insomnia was defined as an Insomnia Severity Index ≥ 15. Results: The prevalence of insomnia was 19.9%. Enlisted personnel were five times more likely to report insomnia than officers (odds ratio [OR] = 5.17). Insomnia was higher among American Indian/Alaskan Natives than other groups (ORs = 1.86-2.85). Those in the Insomnia Group were older, had longer military careers, and reported more marriages, children, and military deployments (d s = 0.13-0.34) than the No Insomnia group. The Insomnia Group reported more severe mental health symptoms, more recent stressful life events, greater childhood abuse, and lower levels of trait resilience, social support, and unit cohesion (Cohen cls = 0.27-1.29). After controlling for covariates, the Insomnia Group was more likely to have a history of head injuries and clinically significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, alcohol use problems, back pain, extremity pain, headaches, and fatigue (ORs = 1.40-3.30). A simultaneous logistic regression found that greater PTSD, depression, fatigue, stressful life events, headaches, anxiety, alcohol use problems, extremity pain, history of head injury, childhood physical neglect, back pain, number of times married, and lower leader support/unit cohesion and tangible social support were statistically significant predictors of insomnia status. Conclusions: Insomnia occurs in about one of five service members prior to a military deployment and is associated with a wide array of psychosocial stressors and mental and physical health problems.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Taylor, D. J., Pruiksma, K. E., Hale, W. J., Kelly, K., Maurer, D., Peterson, A. L., … Williamson, D. E. (2016). Prevalence, correlates, and predictors of insomnia in the US army prior to deployment. Sleep, 39(10), 1795–1806. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.6156

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free