Disciplines
Health Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Background: Veterans frequently report sleep disturbances. However, little is known about which military or life events most frequently influence veterans' sleep. The focus of this study is to report the specific military and life events that had the most negative effect on sleep quality in veterans by utilizing the Military Service Sleep Assessment (MSSA).
Method: Post 9/11 veterans (N = 373) completed an assessment battery examining sleep disturbances, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and of dysfunctional and recovery cognitions. Descriptives (i.e., mean and frequency), t-tests, X2 tests of independence, residuals, and risk ratios were computed to examine the impact of military and life events on sleep quality.
Results: The majority of the participants were male (63.8%), served in the Army (61.4%), and were deployed in support of post 9/11 operations (80.7%). A quarter of veterans reported having "trouble falling or staying asleep" (24.9%) as their primary sleep problem. The other most frequently endorsed concerns were "nightmares or bad dreams" (20.6%), and "grinding my teeth while I sleep" (11.8%). Over half (62.5%) of veterans attributed their primary sleep problem to their military service. The military events most negatively impacting sleep were initial entry military training (34.9%), a permanent change of station (19.8%), and deployment(s) (18.2%).
Discussion: These findings highlight how military events contribute to poor sleep quality early in military personnel’s lives and persist as they become a Veteran. The present findings indicate the long-term impacts of unique military events on sleep health.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Brian Moore
Additional Faculty
Tyler L. Collette, Psychology, tcollet1@kennesaw.edu
Casey Straud, Psychiatry, straud@uthscsa.edu
Included in
Examining the Utility of The Military Service Sleep Assessment in U.S. Veterans
Background: Veterans frequently report sleep disturbances. However, little is known about which military or life events most frequently influence veterans' sleep. The focus of this study is to report the specific military and life events that had the most negative effect on sleep quality in veterans by utilizing the Military Service Sleep Assessment (MSSA).
Method: Post 9/11 veterans (N = 373) completed an assessment battery examining sleep disturbances, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and of dysfunctional and recovery cognitions. Descriptives (i.e., mean and frequency), t-tests, X2 tests of independence, residuals, and risk ratios were computed to examine the impact of military and life events on sleep quality.
Results: The majority of the participants were male (63.8%), served in the Army (61.4%), and were deployed in support of post 9/11 operations (80.7%). A quarter of veterans reported having "trouble falling or staying asleep" (24.9%) as their primary sleep problem. The other most frequently endorsed concerns were "nightmares or bad dreams" (20.6%), and "grinding my teeth while I sleep" (11.8%). Over half (62.5%) of veterans attributed their primary sleep problem to their military service. The military events most negatively impacting sleep were initial entry military training (34.9%), a permanent change of station (19.8%), and deployment(s) (18.2%).
Discussion: These findings highlight how military events contribute to poor sleep quality early in military personnel’s lives and persist as they become a Veteran. The present findings indicate the long-term impacts of unique military events on sleep health.