Research Finds Poor Sleep Quality and Insufficient Sleep Impact Military Health and Readiness

Strategic Insights -

New research highlights the importance of improving sleep hygiene among soldiers to enhance their health and combat readiness. A scoping review of 16 studies revealed that soldiers often experience poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep, exacerbated by deployments, which significantly impact their mental and physical health. The study found that common issues include insufficient sleep duration and poor sleep quality, especially under high-stress conditions such as deployment and shift work. Researchers identified 41 factors influencing soldiers' sleep hygiene, categorizing them based on the socio-ecological model. The study emphasizes the need for programs and policy support to improve sleep hygiene in soldiers, which can ultimately strengthen overall combat readiness.

Key Takeaways:

  • A scoping review of 16 studies examined research trends on sleep hygiene among soldiers, identifying 41 factors influencing their sleep hygiene.
  • Common issues among soldiers include insufficient sleep duration and poor sleep quality, especially under high-stress conditions such as deployment and shift work.
  • The study categorized factors associated with soldiers' sleep hygiene based on the socio-ecological model, including individual, organizational, and intervention-related factors.
  • The research was conducted using 9 databases, including PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and Web of Science.
  • The study highlights the need for programs and policy support to improve sleep hygiene in soldiers, which can ultimately enhance their health and strengthen overall combat readiness.
  • The research team identified 20 individual-level, 12 organizational-level, and 9 intervention-level factors influencing soldiers' sleep hygiene.
  • The study was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process and was deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board of the Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy.

Statistics:

  • 4,796 publications were identified, and 16 studies were ultimately included in the scoping review (4,796 - 16 = 4,780 publications excluded)
  • 41 factors influencing soldiers' sleep hygiene were identified
  • 20 individual-level factors influencing soldiers' sleep hygiene were identified
  • 12 organizational-level factors influencing soldiers' sleep hygiene were identified
  • 9 intervention-level factors influencing soldiers' sleep hygiene were identified
  • 16 studies were included in the scoping review

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy Reports Findings in Military Medicine (An Analysis of Research Trends on Sleep Hygiene in Soldiers Using a Scoping Review). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. July 19, 2025; p 95.
  • Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy. An Analysis of Research Trends on Sleep Hygiene in Soldiers Using a Scoping Review. Military Medicine, 2025.