Correlates of current and heavy smoking among U.S. soldiers returning from combat. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2018 Jun;26(3):215-222
Date
06/05/2018Pubmed ID
29863380DOI
10.1037/pha0000193Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85048049281 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 8 CitationsAbstract
Smoking rates are higher in U.S. soldiers than civilians, with combat-experienced soldiers particularly at risk for heavy smoking (≥20 cigarettes/day). While heavy smoking is correlated with mental health symptoms in civilian samples, the extent to which these symptoms, background variables, and unit climate (self-reported assessments of cohesion, organizational support, and leadership) are linked to smoking in at-risk soldiers remains unclear. The present study examines a range of correlates of smoking-related behavior. Cross-sectional, anonymous surveys were collected from 3,380 soldiers following a deployment in 2008-2009. Measures included demographics, combat exposures, unit climate (e.g., unit cohesion, perceived organizational support, leadership), short sleep duration, and behavioral health variables (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, aggression, adverse childhood experiences [ACEs]). Logistic regression modeled the effects of these variables on two outcome variables: daily smoking and heavy smoking. In the current sample, nearly half (47%) of soldiers reported smoking daily, with 35% of all smokers reporting heavy smoking (17% of the entire sample). Daily smoking was associated with demographic (age, gender, education, rank), behavioral health (ACE, alcohol misuse, sleep duration, aggression), and unit characteristics (unit cohesion); only increased combat exposures and aggression were specifically associated with heavy smoking. Interventions focused on the postdeployment period could incorporate messages about alternatives to smoking as a coping strategy while unit interventions or individual counseling addressing aggression could also address smoking as a negative coping strategy. (PsycINFO Database Record
Author List
Lopez AA, Toblin RL, Riviere LA, Lee JD, Adler ABAuthor
Alexa Anderson PhD Associate Professor in the Nursing department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adaptation, PsychologicalAdolescent
Adult
Afghan Campaign 2001-
Aggression
Anxiety Disorders
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Female
Humans
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Male
Military Personnel
Self Report
Smoking
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
United States
Young Adult
