Characterization of Sleep, Mood, and Performance Patterns in Battalion Staff Members at the Joint Readiness Training Center.
Abstract
This research tackled the sleep/work patterns of 10 members of a battalion staff during a low-intensity conflict scenario. Sleep patterns were captured by wrist-worn activity monitors that permitted minute-by-minute assessment of the activity levels of each staff member. Staff members were monitored over a 16-day rotation. Data on sleep habits and perceptions of work load levels were collected using paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Daily estimates of cognitive work capacity were obtained using a computerized synthetic work task In addition a brief computerized sleepiness-mood scale was presented each day. Staff members slept on the average 5.2 hours (range 3.5-6.4 hours) per day. The staff averaged almost 3 hours less sleep per day on rotation than what they indicated they needed for total recovery (8.1 hours sleep per day). certain staff positions (XO, S2, and S3- Plans) received very little sleep across the rotation (3.74.6 hours sleep per day). Over 60 percent of the sleep obtained was fragmented in nature (sleep periods of 10 minutes or less). Substantial increases in response variability were noted for one staff member. This preliminary research, together with observations from the combat timing centers, suggests that to effectively sustain staff performance during continuous operations, better utilization of staff resources is critical. In addition, commanders must take an active role in the development of unit sleep/work management plans. This includes educating unit members on the importance of sleep in combat operations and how to optimize the recuperative value of available sleep periods through specifically tailored unit sleep plans.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA310269
Entities
People
- Robert J. Pleban
- Tina L. Mason
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences