0298 Romantic Relationships and Insomnia in Military Soldiers

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Intimate relationships may impact insomnia symptoms. In particular, marriage may serve as a protective factor against the development of insomnia, particularly for men. However, little research has studied how relationship quality may contribute to insomnia, particularly in military populations where social support may be particularly important. Therefore, this study will examine the associations between indices of relationship quality and insomnia in a sample of Army Soldiers. Methods Data were acquired from the All Army Study of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS; N=21,449; mean age= 28.6; 88.24% male). Participants completed a survey that included questions about insomnia symptoms and their social networks. Items assessed marital status, duration of marriage, frequency of disagreements, and relationship quality and happiness. Chi-squared analyses were used to examine the associations between probable insomnia from the past 30 days and relationship items. Results Approximately 38.2% of this sample experienced past month insomnia symptoms. Insomnia was more prevalent in divorced or separated individuals. Among partnered individuals, Soldiers who reported that they talked more about ending the relationship and had more disagreements with their partners were more likely to have insomnia symptoms. Conversely, those reporting that their relationships were going well or satisfied in their relationship were more likely to not have insomnia. Conclusion In this sample of Soldiers, marriage only served as a protective factor when individuals had a positive outlook in their relationship. These results also suggest that healthier relationships are generally associated with better sleep. These findings underline the importance of relationship quality and its effects on insomnia. Support (if any) This publication is based on public use data from Army STARRS (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan-http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR35197-v1), funded by U.S. NIMH-U01MH087981. CJS’s time was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliations Advanced Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. KEM’s time was supported by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (Clinical Science Research and Development Service – IK2 CX001874).