Associations between mood and specific health composites during U.S. Navy Persian Gulf operations

Previously conducted field studies using shipboard U.S. Navy personnel during at-sea operations in the Persian Gulf have shown that crew members experience mood changes and degradations in general physical health. The objectives of this study were to: (a) examine the relationship between mood and health complaints among personnel deployed in the Persian Gulf; and (b) extend previous research using specific health composites rather than a general measure of health. Mood was assessed for 104 shipboard volunteers using the Profile of Mood States Tension/Anxiety and Fatigue subscales. Health symptoms were measures using the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that each of 11 distinct health composites was significantly associated with one or both mood variables. Further, the two mood factors were differentially associated with 9 of the 11 health composites. This study underscores the usefulness of employing multiple specific health measures rather than global measures.