Sensation Seeking Behaviors and Dietary Supplement Usage in Warfighters

Abstract

Military personnel use dietary supplements (DSs) for various reasons. Despite lack of evidence of effectiveness, safety concerns and increasing cost, Soldiers continue using DSs.PURPOSETo characterize how sensation seeking behaviors, which have been repeatedly associated with illicit drug abuse, smoking, and alcohol use, are related to DS use and other demographics factors in military populations.METHODSBackground and behavioral questionnaires were administered to 260 Army Soldiers (mean ± SD, 28 ± 6 y, 26± 3 kg/m2 BMI, 16% female) at three installations. The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (40 total points (pts) with four 10‐point subscales: experience seeking, boredom susceptibility, thrill seeking, and disinhibition) and the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (80 total points with two 40‐point subscales: novelty and intensity) were used to assess Soldiers’ sensation seeking behaviors. One‐way ANOVA's were conducted to compare sensation seeking subscale scores of DS user and non‐users as well as tobacco products users, Army Physical Fitness Test score, and assignment type.RESULTSOverall, 79% of soldiers reported the use of DSs ≥1 time/week; 34% used sports beverages, 8% used sports bars or gels, and 6% used meal‐replacement beverages. The most commonly used DSs were protein powders (55%), multivitamin/mineral supplements (44%), amino acid mixtures (22%), and herbal supplements (10%). Vitamin/mineral users had higher experience seeking (8.1 ± 1.6 vs. 7.6 ± 2.0, P < 0.05) and novelty (13.8 ± 3.5 vs. 12.4 ± 4.3, P< 0.001) scores compared to non‐users. Protein/sport users had higher boredom susceptibility (7.2 ± 1.6 vs. 6.7± 1.7 P< 0.05), thrill seeking (7.4 ± 2.2 vs. 6.4 ± 2.1, P < 0.001), novelty (13.6 ± 3.8 vs. 12.3 ± 4.1, P< 0.05), and intensity (14.2 ± 4.3 vs. 12.6 ± 3.8, P < 0.05) scores than non‐users. Tobacco users reported greater susceptibility to boredom (7.5 ± 1.4 vs. 6.7 ± 1.7, P < 0.001), disinhibition (5.9 ± 2.3 vs. 5.1 ± 2.1, P < 0.001), novelty (14.0 ± 3.5 vs. 12.7 ±4.1, P < 0.05), and intensity (15.0 ± 3.7 vs. 13.0 ± 4.5, P < 0.001) scores compared to non‐users. Soldiers who scored higher on their (APFT) had greater thrill seeking scores. Soldiers assigned to combat arms units had greater disinhibition and intensity scores.CONCLUSIONThese data support previous studies, showing high supplement use among soldiers that may reflect the unique demands and stressors of military service. Soldiers with higher sensation seeking behavior scores are more likely to be users of DSs. Unit leaders and healthcare professionals can assess soldiers’ lifestyle factors to identify potential use of DSs and safety education.Support or Funding InformationSupported by USAMRMC.The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author(s)and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Army or the Department of Defense.