The effect of attachment style on sleep in postdeployed service members.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect of attachment style on subjective sleep outcomes in a population of service members (N=561 (403 male, 157 female)). Active duty, postdeployment service members completed questionnaires including two measures of adult attachment and two measures of subjective sleep. Results confirmed the central hypothesis: secure attachment style is associated with better sleep, followed by dismissing, fearful, and preoccupied, respectively. Gender differences were also found for prevalence of attachment style patterns. This is the first study incorporating attachment style and sleep outcomes within a military population, and provides the basis for future research in this area.