Self-Reported Sleep, Anxiety, and Cognitive Performance in a Sample of U.S. Military Active Duty and Veterans

Unhealthy sleep can interfere with U.S. military service members affective and cognitive functioning, and increase accident and injury risks. This study examined the relationship between U.S. active duty and veterans' (n = 233) self-reported sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), anxiety (Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), and cognitive performance (Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric). Statistical analyses included Pearson product moment correlations and multivariate analysis of variance, with Tukey-b post-hoc tests, with a p < 0.05 significance level. Higher education, abstinence from sleep aids, longer time in active duty service, and being on active duty were correlated with better sleep and lower anxiety. Greater sleep disturbance, poor sleep quality, and sleepiness-related daytime dysfunction were associated with greater anxiety and slower response times, and lower response accuracy. Statistically controlling for anxiety diminished the magnitude and significance of the correlations between sleep and cognitive performance, suggesting that reducing anxiety will improve sleep and diminish cognitive performance effects. These findings suggest the need for addressing both sleep and anxiety for those with diagnosed sleep disorders, as well as using a procedural systems approach to decrease anxiety during missions that demand outstanding cognitive performance.