The Effects of Reversing Sleep-Wake Cycles on Sleep and Fatigue on the Crew of USS John C. Stennis

Abstract

This study explores the effects of reversing the work-sleep schedules of the crew aboard the USS JOHN C STENNIS. It also reviews current research in the field of sleep deprivation and the resultant performance decrements in humans. The results of the study indicate that a significant number of sailors have difficulty adjusting to working nights and sleeping days. Additionally, the study finds that individuals working topside have greater difficulty adjusting to the reversed schedule than do their counterparts who work belowdecks. Using a validated model of human performance and fatigue, we demonstrate that the level of fatigue and sleep deprivation observed in this study population significantly reduces individual effectiveness. The recommendations address the need for educating military personnel on the subject of fatigue and sleep logistics, possible fatigue countermeasures, and the need for further research on this topic.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA407035

Entities

People

  • John L. Nguyen

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Rhythms
  • Circadian Rhythms
  • Databases
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Motor Skills
  • Operations Research
  • Psychology
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Psychophysiology
  • Sleep Deprivation
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Therapy

Readers

  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology
  • Systems Analysis and Design