Life stress and illness patterns in the US Navy. VI. Environmental, demographic, and prior life change variables in relation to illness onset in naval aviators during a combat cruise.

Abstract

Patterns of illness occurrence were examined in naval aviators flying combat missions from an aircraft carrier during a 6-month deployment to Vietnam. Demographic and symptom questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the cruise, and the cruise activities, work assignments and the illnesses developed by the aviators during the cruise were tabulated. The mean illness rate varied with operational conditions and personnel characteristics. Higher illness rates occurred in younger age groups and among those more preoccupied with their health. The findings parallel those for several ships' enlisted crews, from whom the aviators differed along several demographic dimensions. The civilian scoring system for the Schedule of Recent Experience, measuring recent life change, was effective in discriminating future illness in this officer sample.