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- Title
Prospective assessment of neuropsychological functioning and mood in US Army National Guard personnel deployed as peacekeepers.
- Authors
Proctor, Susan P.; Heaton, Kristin J.; Dos Santos, Kathryn Dutille; Rosenman, Erik S.; Heeren, Timothy
- Abstract
Objective The present study examined the impact of deployment on neuropsychological functioning and mood in Army National Guard personnel. We hypothesized that deployment on a peacekeeping mission, compared to non-deployment, would result in reduced proficiencies in neuropsychological performance and negative mood changes, and that such changes would relate to working in a high-strain job (high demands/low control), in accordance with Karasek's demand-control model. Methods This prospective cohort study involved 119 male soldiers (67 participants examined before and after deployment to the Bosnia operational theatre and 52 non-deployed soldiers assessed twice over a comparable period). Results Unit-level adjusted, multivariate analyses found that deployed soldiers, compared to their non-deployed counterparts, demonstrated reduced proficiency in tasks involving motor speed [unstandardized coefficient B= -3.88, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -6.38--1.39; B= -3.84, 95% Cl -5.55--2.14; dominant and nondominant hand, respectively] and sustained attention (B0.03 1,95% CI 0.009-0.054), along with decreased vigor (B= -2.71, 95% Cl -3.63--1.77). Deployed soldiers also showed improved proficiency in a working-memory task (B= -0.098, 95% CI -0.136--0.060) with less depression symptomatology (B= -3.19, 95% Cl -5.26--1.13). Work stress levels increased over time in both deployed and non-deployed groups, but observed deployment effects remained significant after accounting for a high-strain job. Conclusion The observed change in performance associated with peacekeeping deployment compared to non-deployment (slowed processing speed, reduced motor speed and reported vigor, together with improved proficiency in a working memory task) suggests an adaptive response to mission occupational stressors. This pattern does not appear to be influenced by working in a high-strain job. Further study is required to examine whether these results reflect transient or permanent changes in functioning.
- Subjects
UNITED States; PEACEKEEPING forces; STABILITY operations of the United States Armed Forces; UNITED States. National Guard Bureau; MOOD (Psychology); NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 2009, Vol 35, Issue 5, p349
- ISSN
0355-3140
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5271/sjweh.1348