Stationed in Alaska: Subjective Winter Stress and Mental Health

AbstractBuilding on research that has identified the negative health impact of cold-weather environments, the present study examines the mental health and health-related behaviors of 585 U.S. soldiers stationed in Alaska. In all, 29.1% reported subjective winter stress. Subjective winter stress was positively correlated with sleep problems, anger, and depression symptoms even after controlling for rank, combat experiences, and corresponding pre-existing symptoms; subjective stress from the extreme cold accounted for health symptoms more than did subjective stress from prolonged darkness. There was no specific association with alcohol misuse. Findings demonstrate the importance of considering individual differences in the subjective perception of harsh climates.