COVID-19 Concerns, Information Needs, and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes among U.S. Soldiers.
Mil Med
; 189(3-4): e878-e887, 2024 Feb 27.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37715687
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted U.S. Military operations and potentially compounded the risk for adverse mental health outcomes by layering unique occupational stress on top of general restrictions, fears, and concerns. The objective of the current study was to characterize the prevalence of COVID-19 concerns and information needs, demographic disparities in these outcomes, and the degree to which COVID-19 concerns and information needs were associated with heightened risk for adverse mental health outcomes among U.S. Army soldiers. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Command-directed anonymous surveys were administered electronically to U.S. soldiers assigned to one of three regional commands in the Northwest United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific Region. Surveys were administered in May to June 2020 to complete (time 1 n = 21,294) and again in December 2020 to January 2021 (time 2 n = 10,861). Only active duty or active reservists/national guard were eligible to participate. Members from other branches of service were also not eligible.RESULTS:
Highly prevalent COVID-19 concerns included the inability to spend time with friends/family, social activities, and changing rules, regulations, and guidance related to COVID-19. Some information needs were endorsed by one quarter or more soldiers at both time points, including stress management/coping, travel, how to protect oneself, and maintaining mission readiness. COVID-19 concerns and information needs were most prevalent among non-White soldiers. Concerns and information needs did not decline overall between the assessments. Finally, COVID-19 concerns were associated with greater risk of multiple adverse mental health outcomes at both time points.CONCLUSIONS:
COVID-19 concerns and information needs were prevalent and showed little evidence of decrement over the course of the first 6 months of the pandemic. COVID-19 concerns were consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes. These data highlight two targets and potential demographic subgroups such that local leadership and Army medicine and public health enterprises can be better prepared to monitor and address to maintain force health and readiness in the face of possible future biomedical threats.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
COVID-19
/
Personal Militar
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
/
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mil Med
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos