2015 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey (HRBS)

Notable Results Among the Active-Duty Population

• Active-duty service members met or exceeded Healthy People 2020 targets for physical activity. More than half of respondents reported using energy drinks in the past month, suggesting that the military may be at increased risk for misuse, which is associated with several adverse health outcomes. More than half of service members got less sleep than they need, and almost one-third were moderately or severely bothered by lack of energy due to poor sleep.
• We found that rates of binge drinking in the services remained nearly as high as in 2011 and were at a level high enough to cause concern. Rates of illicit drug use were substantially lower among service members than among the general U.S. population. E-cigarette use is a growing problem.
• Mental health problems remain a common concern and occur across all branches of the military. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder are higher in the HRBS population than in the general population, but demographic and other differences between these populations make it challenging to interpret these contrasts.
• The prevalence of specific chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, high cholesterol, ulcers) among service members was relatively low compared with the general U.S. population.
• Unintended pregnancy rates are about the same among female service members than among civilian women and are of particular concern given the potential impact of pregnancy on readiness. And although most service members were tested for HIV in the past year, about one-fifth of those at high risk for HIV infection went untested in that period.
• Results indicate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) personnel get routine medical care in percentages similar to non-LGBT personnel. However, compared with non-LGBT personnel, they report more smoking, binge drinking, sexual behavior risky to their health, and adverse sexual health outcomes. The percentages of LGBT personnel reporting mental health issues, a history of unwanted sexual contact, and a history of physical abuse are particularly high. These disparities warrant close attention and tracking so that the subgroup's specific needs can be addressed.
• Service members with more exposure to combat trauma during deployments showed elevated rates of mental and physical health problems, as well as negative health-related behaviors (e.g., substance use) compared with their less-exposed peers.