A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Association Between Social Media Use and Sleep Among a Sample of U.S. Army Soldiers.

INTRODUCTION: In the United States (U.S.), approximately 35% of adults sleep less than 7 hours per night. The relationship between social media use and insufficient sleep has not thoroughly been examined among adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if social media use is associated with insufficient sleep among a sample of U.S. Army Soldiers. METHODS: This study surveyed 9,052 U.S. Soldiers in 2018 via a self-administered online questionnaire. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between social media use (<38 hours vs. ≥38 hours per week) and insufficient sleep, controlling for demographic and behavioral covariates. RESULTS: Overall, 54.9% of Soldiers reported insufficient sleep. There was no significant relationship between excessive social media use and insufficient sleep in the multivariable logistic regression (OR: 1.03; CI: 0.87-1.23). The covariates of sex, race/ethnicity, rank, hazardous alcohol consumption, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with insufficient sleep. Soldiers who reported symptoms of anxiety were more than twice as likely (OR: 2.11; CI: 1.65-2.70) to report insufficient sleep than Soldiers without signs of anxiety. Additionally, Soldiers who reported depressive symptoms were 85% (OR: 1.85; CI: 1.44-2.37) more likely to experience insufficient sleep than Soldiers without signs of depression. CONCLUSION: Sufficient sleep is essential to ensuring mission readiness and preventing accidental morbidity and mortality among Soldiers. The findings of this analysis do not suggest a link between extended social media use and insufficient sleep. However, though previously uninvestigated, Soldiers reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression were more likely to experience insufficient sleep compared to unafflicted Soldiers. Therefore developing a culture that encourages Soldiers to seek necessary behavioral health screening and care could be a key primary strategy to promote adequate sleep.

Mortality surveillance in the U.S. Army, 2005-2011.

PURPOSE: Mortality rates in the U.S. Army from 2005 to 2011 were examined over time and compared to the U.S. general population. METHOD: Cases were U.S. Army Soldiers (active duty or activated National Guard/Reserve) with dates of death between 2005 and 2011 and between 18 and 64 years of age in the Department of Defense Medical Mortality Registry. Age- and sex-adjusted annual mortality rates (AR) were calculated for each category of death and examined via linear regression. Proportions of underlying causes of death were also examined. RESULTS: The trend in AR in the U.S. Army significantly decreased for combat deaths, the average annual percent change (AAPC) = 15.2% decrease in the log of the rate (LAR); p = 0.04 and accident deaths, AAPC = 5.4% decrease in the LAR; p = 0.002 and significantly increased for suicides, AAPC = 10.6% increase in the LAR; p = 0.001. The trend in AR for suicides for the Army was significantly different compared to the U.S. general population, AAPC = 11.0% increase in the LAR; p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Trends in rates of combat deaths and accident deaths declined although rates of suicides increased. The Army suicide rate increased in comparison to the United States. 70% of accident deaths were transportation related. Almost 70% of suicides and homicides were firearm related.