Poor Subjective Sleep Quality Is Associated with Poor Occupational Outcomes in Elite Soldiers

Abstract

We aimed to assess the relationship between subjective sleep quality and occupationally-relevant outcomes in military personnel. Participants were from an elite unit of US Army soldiers who worked extended (~30 h) shifts (with minimal recovery time between shifts) during 3-week work sessions. Questionnaires assessing subjective sleep quality during the month prior (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) were administered at the beginning of the session. Occupational outcomes (emotional exhaustion, functional impairment, role overload, daytime sleepiness) were assessed on the final day of the session. Regression analyses were conducted to link sleep quality and occupational outcomes. The study sample participants had relatively poor sleep prior to the exercise (PSQI Global score average = 6.3 ± 3.1). Higher PSQI Global Scores prior to the work session longitudinally predicted daytime sleepiness (f2: 0.56) after the work session. PSQI component 7, which queries daytime dysfunction attributed to poor sleep quality, longitudinally predicted emotional exhaustion, functional impairment, and role overload (f2 range: 0.19–0.70). In conclusion, poor sleep quality—in aggregation with occupationally-mandated sleep loss—is predictive of poorer subsequent occupational outcomes. Future work should aim to increase sleep opportunities prior to occupationally-mandated sleep loss in order to build resilience when sleep loss is unavoidable.

An assessment of prevalence of poor sleep quality among construction workers in Southern India

“…, 2020), non-clinical population (João et al. , 2018) and soldiers' occupational outcomes (Mantua et al. , 2020), limited reportage persists in construction management research (Ng and Chan, 2018; Brossoit et al.…”

“…Challenges like sleep deprivation which negate the performance of construction workers in such climes will have an adverse effect on productivity levels therein. Although the literature is replete with reportage on the impact of sleep quality on the performance of full-time teleworkers (Afonso et al, 2021), medical students (Alotaibi et al, 2020), frontline health professionals (Zhou et al, 2020), non-clinical population (João et al, 2018) and soldiers' occupational outcomes (Mantua et al, 2020), limited reportage persists in construction management research (Ng and Chan, 2018;Brossoit et al, 2019;Kim et al, 2021). Furthermore, these construction industry-related studies have focused on (1) an evaluation of the influence of various factors, including, sleep quality, on the work-ability of construction workers (Ng and Chan, 2018), (2) an evaluation of the effects of sleep quality on the levels of cognitive failure among workers in the workplace (Brossoit et al, 2019) and (3) an assessment of factors associated with poor sleep quality among construction workers in Korea (Kim et al, 2021).…”

Operation early‐bird: Investigating altered light exposure in military barracks on sleep and performance—a placebo‐controlled study

“…Chronic sleep restriction, which is not uncommon in a military environment, can result in cognitive deficits equivalent to those observed after 24 hr of wakefulness (Van Dongen et al, 2003), and this level of sleep deprivation results in deleterious effects similar to drink‐drive limits (Fairclough & Graham, 1999; Lowrie & Brownlow, 2020). Further, emotional, behavioural and functional dysfunction have all been identified in a military context following poor sleep quality (Mantua et al, 2020; Mantua, Bessey, et al, 2021a). It is worth noting that chronotype and genetic susceptibility to sleep loss were not assessed in the current study.…”

How sleep can help maximize human potential: The role of leaders

“…23 Also, in a recent study conducted by researchers from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in a unit of elite U.S. Army Soldiers, poor sleep quality was predictive of higher emotional exhaustion, greater functional impairment, and higher role overload. 24 Thus, even the most highly trained and motivated soldiers are not immune to the decrementing effects of sleep loss.…”