2002 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel

Abstract

Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. The survey is the eighth in a series of DoD surveys conducted since 1980 and has three broad aims: (a) to continue the survey of substance use among active-duty military personnel, (b) to assess progress toward selected Healthy People 2000 objectives for active-duty military personnel, and (c) to provide baseline data regarding progress toward selected Healthy People 2010 objectives for active-duty military personnel. As such, it provides comprehensive and detailed estimates of the prevalence of alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco use and the negative effects of alcohol use. In combination with data from the prior surveys in the series, it provides data for trends. It also provides estimates for health behaviors pertaining to fitness and cardiovascular disease risk reduction, injuries and injury prevention, and sexually transmitted disease risk reduction. In addition, it offers an assessment of the mental health of military personnel, including stress and depression, and examines oral health and dental check-ups, gambling behaviors, and special gender-specific health issues pertaining to women's and men's health. REPORT DATE OCT 20032Many individuals contributed to the success of this study. Among DoD and military Services personnel, special appreciation is due to Ms. Kim Frazier, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hartzell, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Williams, and Dr. Michael Peterson, the Cooperative Agreement Officer's Representatives, who provided valuable guidance and facilitated conduct of the study. Excellent liaison between DoD, RTI, and the Services was provided by Colonel Regina Curtis for the Army, Mr. Linden Butler and Mr. William Flannery for the Navy, Lieutenant Danisha Robbins and Mr. Cruz Martinez for the Marine Corps, and Dr. Paul DiTullio and Mr. Charlie Hamilton for the Air Force. We also gratefully acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Robert Hamilton, Ms. Carole Massey, and Ms. Sue Reinhold of the Defense Manpower Data Center for constructing the installation-level sampling frame, selecting the sample of military personnel, and relaying current military population counts used for the analysis weights. The cooperation of installation commanders, both for the pilot test and the main survey, and the assista...

Millennium Cohort: enrollment begins a 21-year contribution to understanding the impact of military service

“…Worldwide, mental disorders accounted for nearly 11% of the disease burden in 1990 and are projected to affect 15% of the world population by 2020, causing a public health impact nearly as large as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [66,67]. Thirteen percent of all military hospitalizations from 1990 to 1999 were reported as mental health disorders [68], and as many as 17% of serving members had symptoms of anxiety and 19% had symptoms of depression in 2001 [69]. Among Cohort members, meaningful levels of a number of common, potentially serious mental disorders were identified and found to be consistent with prevalence in other populations, such as major depressive disorder (3%), panic syndrome (1%), other anxiety syndrome (2%), eating disorders (2%), and PTSD (2%).…”

Factors associated with antisocial behavior in combat veterans

“…Antisocial behavior was measured by asking participants to report the number of times in the past 12 months that they had engaged in nine types of antisocial or aggressive behavior. These items were adapted from items used on the 2005 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel [Bray et al, 2006]. Respondents rated each item using a four-point scale (0 5 zero to 3 5 three or more times).…”

Overweight and Obesity Trends Among Active Duty Military Personnel

“…Data were drawn from the 1995, 13 1998, 14 2002, 15 2005, 16 and 2008 17 DoD Surveys of Health-Related Behaviors Among AD Military Personnel (HRB). Another survey, conducted in 2011, 18 was not included because of incompatible variables and unknown effects of changes in survey methodology.…”