Prospective associations between insomnia symptoms and alcohol use problems among former and current military service personnel. (1st June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Short, Nicole A.; Allan, Nicholas P.; Oglesby, Mary E.; Moradi, Shahrzad; Schmidt, Norman B.; Stecker, Tracy
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 199(2019)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2019-06-01
• Subjects: Insomnia -- Sleep -- Alcohol -- Drinking -- Military -- Veterans; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.02.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Insomnia and alcohol problems were measured over 6 months among military personnel. Insomnia predicted increased heavy drinking and alcohol problems. Alcohol variables did not predicted increased insomnia. Abstract: Background: Despite evidence that insomnia symptoms exacerbate alcohol use disorder symptoms, there is a dearth of prospective research testing bidirectional associations between these variables. Furthermore, no studies have prospectively examined these associations among military personnel, a vulnerable population for sleep- and alcohol-related problems. Thus, the current study examined whether insomnia symptoms prospectively predicted increased alcohol use disorder symptoms among a sample of military service members and veterans over a 6-month follow-up period, as well as whether alcohol use disorder symptoms led to increases in insomnia. Method: Hypotheses were tested among a sample of 274 current and past military service members who participated in a baseline and 6-month assessment using self-report measures. Results: Path analyses revealed that insomnia symptoms significantly prospectively predicted increased month-6 heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems, but not days drinking or being bothered by drinking. None of the alcohol variables significantly predicted insomnia. Conclusion: Results support a model in which insomnia symptoms exacerbate alcohol use disorder symptoms, specifically heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. Future research should seek to examine these findings in diverse populations and test potential mechanisms and clinical implications of these results.