0229 Concerns about the future linked with poor sleep quality in U.S. Army Soldiers withdrawing from Afghanistan

Abstract

Abstract Introduction A special operations unit of U.S. Soldiers rotated through Afghanistan from October, 2001 to the U.S. drawdown in 2020-2021. For these Soldiers, the drawdown has led to uncertainties about the future of the unit and their careers. Psychological stress resulting from these uncertainties could lead to sleep disturbances. This study assessed the relationship between attitudes about the Afghanistan drawdown and sleep. Methods A survey was broadly distributed in July-August 2021. To assess attitudes about the drawdown, participants were asked whether they felt changes in their personal readiness had occurred since the drawdown began. They were asked how they believed the unit should support Afghanistan in the future (remain in Afghanistan, support only through airstrikes, or no further support). Lastly, Soldiers were asked whether the drawdown made them more likely to switch to another unit, get out of the Army, or no change. Subjective sleep quality and duration from the month prior was assessed. Due to the abrupt fall of Kabul, the survey was discontinued earlier than planned, resulting in 35 participants. Results Soldiers were 32.80±5.99 years old. They had been in the unit for 8.89±5.71 years and had deployed to Afghanistan 5.14±3.14 times. The average sleep duration was 6.66±0.79 hours, and the average sleep quality was 63.39%±21.63%. There were no relationships between attitudes and sleep duration. However, regression analyses showed those who reported increased stress (B=18.16, p=.01), decreased morale (B=2.97, p=.006), and decreased motivation (B=2.69, p=.01) since the drawdown began had poorer sleep quality. ANOVA tests showed Soldiers who believed the unit should remain in Afghanistan had poorer sleep quality than those endorsing only air support or no involvement (F(2,29)=6.39, p=.005). Further, those who endorsed being more likely to make a career change had poorer sleep quality than those with no changes in career plans (F(2,29)=3.53, p=.04). Conclusion These results indicate that psychological distress resulting from the drawdown may be impacting sleep quality in this unit. Continuous monitoring of sleep quality may prove to be a sensitive indicator of elevated stress at the unit level. Support (If Any) Support for this study came from the Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) of the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). Material has been reviewed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. There is no objection to its presentation and/or publication. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors, and are not to be construed as official, or as reflecting true views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. The investigators have adhered to the policies for protection of human subjects as prescribed in AR 70–25. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.