Document Type

Poster

Date

4-9-2026

Keywords

Alcohol, Psychological distress, Sleepiness, Military

Campus Community

Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation; College of Arts and Sciences; Veteran and Military Behavioral Health Collaborative; D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Syracuse University

Language

English

Funder(s)

Center for Health Behavior Research & Innovation, D'Aniello Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, Veteran & Military Health Collaborative

Disciplines

Military and Veterans Studies

Description/Abstract

Introduction: Sleep difficulties are prevalent among college students and especially among veteran and military-connected students (VMCS), who face unique stressors related to military service and campus life. Alcohol use is common in both military and university settings, and many students use it as a sleep aid, especially when dealing with symptoms of psychological distress. However, alcohol use disrupts sleep quality and contributes to next-day fatigue. Research has shown that psychological distress is strongly linked to both alcohol use and sleep problems, although little research has examined how these factors jointly relate to sleep among VMCS. This study examined associations between recent alcohol use and daytime tiredness among student veterans, and whether alcohol use moderates the relationship between psychological distress and daytime sleepiness. Methods: Data were drawn from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA)-IIIb, which comprised Fall 2023 through Spring 2025. Negative binomial regression models examined associations between recent alcohol use (past two weeks) and daytime tiredness. All models were adjusted for age, sex, and psychological distress. An interaction model tested whether associations between psychological distress and sleep symptoms differed by recent alcohol use. Results: After adjustment, recent alcohol use was no longer independently associated with daytime tiredness (χ²=.34, p=.56). However, the interaction indicated that past two-week alcohol use augmented the relationship between psychological distress was and daytime sleepiness (IRR=1.01, SE=.003; p=.03). Conclusions: Past two-week alcohol use was linked to a stronger positive association between psychological distress and daytime sleepiness. Findings suggest that addressing alcohol use may be a salient target for improving daytime sleepiness especially in individuals with psychological distress. Integrated campus interventions targeting coping, mental health, and alcohol use may reduce sleep-related impairment in this population. Longitudinal research may be needed to clarify the directionality of these relationships

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