Affiliations: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental
Medicine, Military Performance Division, Natick, MA 01760, USA | United States Army Medical Center and School, Medical
Science Division, Ft Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: L.E. Banderet, Ph.D., United States
Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, ATTN: MCMR-UE-MPD, Natick,
MA 01760-5007, USA. Tel.: +1 508 233 4858; Fax: +1 508 233 4195; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: This 9 month prospective study, conducted at the US Army Sergeants
Major Academy (USASGMA), examined the association of selected psychological
variables (e.g., measures of tension/anxiety, sleep disturbance, Type A
behavior pattern) with injury occurrence and physical performance in 126
soldiers. ANOVA and logistic regression analyses revealed significant
relationships between: 1) Traumatic injury occurrence and mean tension/anxiety
scores, 2) Mean self-reported sleep disturbance scores and traumatic injury
occurrence, 3) The Type A behavior pattern (abbreviated Jenkins Activity
Survey) and number of sit-ups repetitions completed in 2 minutes, one component
of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), 4) The Type A behavior pattern and
total score APFT. No significant associations were found for mean
tension/anxiety scores and overuse injuries, or Type A behavior pattern and two
mile run time or number of push-up repetitions completed in 2 minutes. These
data suggest traumatic injury occurrence is influenced by tension/anxiety and
disturbances in sleep habits. Additionally, individuals with higher Jenkins
Activity scores (characteristic of the Type A behavior pattern) perform better
physically.
