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Insomnia severity, combat exposure and mental health outcomes
Author(s) -
Wright Kathleen M.,
Britt Thomas W.,
Bliese Paul D.,
Adler Amy B.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1373
Subject(s) - insomnia , mental health , moderation , psychiatry , stressor , distress , clinical psychology , psychology , military personnel , medicine , social psychology , political science , law
Few studies have examined insomnia severity as a moderator of the impact of combat experiences on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol problems, such that combat exposure is expected to have more negative consequences for soldiers who report insomnia. In this study, a sample of 522 military personnel completed measures of PTSD and alcohol problems prior to a 12‐month deployment to Iraq, and then completed measures assessing insomnia severity, combat exposure, PTSD, alcohol problems and overall distress 3 months post‐deployment. Results of a moderated multiple regression indicated that insomnia severity interacted with combat exposure to predict PTSD and alcohol problems after controlling for pre‐deployment baseline measures of these outcomes, such that the relationship between combat exposure and the mental health symptoms was stronger when insomnia severity was greater. Results are discussed from the perspective of the role of insomnia in the development of PTSD and alcohol problems, as well as from an occupational health perspective where insomnia may deprive individuals of the resources they need to recover from the effects of severe occupational stressors found in high risk occupations. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.