A Social-Ecological Examination of Sleep among Airmen in Technical Training
Abstract
Poor sleep is an on-going risk to the health and mission readiness of U.S. Armed Forces, with estimates of sleep problems high above U.S. civilian populations. Intervening early in the career of active duty Air Force personnel (or Airmen) with education and the establishment of healthy behaviors may be a positive factor in the prevention of sleep problems. This paper describes the results of a qualitative study seeking to understand the facilitators and barriers to achieving good sleep in a technical training school occurring during the first year of entry into the United States Air Force. Using the social ecological framework and content analysis, three focus groups with Airmen were conducted to explore themes at the individual, social, environmental, and organizational/policy level. Overall, results indicated a cohort motivated to achieve good sleep, but also struggling with a number of barriers across each level. This paper highlights opportunities for population health interventions during technical training aimed at supporting Airmen in developing healthy sleep behaviors early in the course of their career.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1174215
Entities
People
- A. V. Joiner
- B. A. Blue Star
- B. A. Patience
- J. Ruggieri
- Jordan M. Ellis
- L. N. Brown
- M. Little
- R. A. Estevez-burns
- W. G. Talcott
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing
- Edwards Air Force Base
- University of Virginia