Sleep patterns before, during, and after deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the associations between deployment in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and sleep quantity and quality.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study


METHODS
The Millennium Cohort Study survey is administered via a secure website or US mail.


METHODS
Data were from 41,225 Millennium Cohort members who completed baseline (2001-2003) and follow-up (2004-2006) surveys. Participants were placed into 1 of 3 exposure groups based on their deployment status at follow-up: nondeployed, survey completed during deployment, or survey completed postdeployment.


METHODS
N/A.


RESULTS
Study outcomes were self-reported sleep duration and trouble sleeping, defined as having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Adjusted mean sleep duration was significantly shorter among those in the deployed and postdeployment groups compared with those who did not deploy. Additionally, male gender and greater stress were significantly associated with shorter sleep duration. Personnel who completed their survey during deployment or postdeployment were significantly more likely to have trouble sleeping than those who had not deployed. Lower self-reported general health, female gender, and reporting of mental health symptoms at baseline were also significantly associated with increased odds of trouble sleeping.


CONCLUSIONS
Deployment significantly influenced sleep quality and quantity in this population though effect size was mediated with statistical modeling that included mental health symptoms. Personnel reporting combat exposures or mental health symptoms had increased odds of trouble sleeping. These findings merit further research to increase understanding of temporal relationships between sleep and mental health outcomes occurring during and after deployment.
Department of Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA 92106-3521, USA. amber.seelig@med.navy.mil
Amber D
AD
Seelig
Isabel G
IG
Jacobson
Besa
B
Smith
Tomoko I
TI
Hooper
Edward J
EJ
Boyko
Gary D
GD
Gackstetter
Philip
P
Gehrman
Carol A
CA
Macera
Tyler C
TC
Smith
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States