Study on the relationship between perceived stress, personality, coping style, mental health and sleep quality in submariners

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between perceived stress, personality, coping style, self-esteem, self-efficiency, mental health and sleep quality in the submariners. Methods A comprehensive survey was made on 134 submariners with Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Coping Style Scale, Self-esteem Scale (SES), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results (1) Total PSQI scores of the submariners were (4.88±3.12), with the rate of sleep disorder accounting for 19.4%. (2) Hours of sleep were positively correlated with the years of military service and personal status; Sleep disorder was positively correlated with age, the years of military service and personal status; And sleeping efficiency was directly associated with the frequency of sea deployment (P<0.01 ) . (3) Total PSQI scores and the scores of various components were negatively correlated with most component scores of SF-36 (P<0.05, P<0.01). (4) Total PSQI scores and the scores of most components were positively correlated with the scores of psychoticism, neuroticism and total PSS scores (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was significantly negative correlation between SES scores and total PSQI scores; and there was also significantly negative correlation between GSES and sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction scores (P<0.05). There was significantly negative correlation between negative coping (NC) and total PSQI scores, sleep-inducing drugs and daytime dysfunction (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusions The sleep quality of the submariners was significantly correlated with perceived stress, personality, mental health, coping style, self-esteem and self-efficiency. For this reason, efforts should be made to enhance stress management and cultivate stable and mature personality of the submariners. Key words: Submariner; Sleep; SF-36; Perceived stress; Personality; Self-esteem