Demographic and psychosocial factors in acute illness reporting

Higher illness reporting seen in high life change subjects was consistent regardless of the ship's schedule of operations andRegardless of the organ system of illness considered, and a positive and roughly linear relationship was suggested between the number and/or intensity of subjects' pre-cruise life changes and their cruise period illness rates.

Abstract

Navy and Marine Corps personnel aboard three U.S. Navy cruisers (N = 2684) were followed during a 6–8-month oversea deployment in terms of all reported illnesses of the men, with special reference to illness type and severity. One-third of the crew had no dispensary visits during the cruise, one-quarter reported a single illness episode, and the remainder experienced multiple illnesses during their time at sea and in port. The great majority of illnesses reported were minor in severity. Respiratory, gastro-intestinal, genito-urinary, demal, and musculo-skeletal disorders accounted for four-fifths of all dispensary visits. Illness reporting was seen to be greater for younger sailors than for older men; it was higher among Negroes as compared to Caucasians, and was the lowest for Filipinos; and it was higher for men with lower than average educational attainment. Illness reporting varied according to the man's occupation and showed a negative, linear correlation with job satisfaction. The timing of illness reporting was seen to vary according to the ship's operational schedule—reaching its peak during times when ships approached and took part in combat operations. Times of lowest illness reporting were seen when the men were relaxed and experiencing light work-loads, and also during periods where they were meeting a new and challenging situation. A positive and roughly linear relationship was suggested between the number and/or intensity of subjects' pre-cruise life changes and their cruise period illness rates. This higher illness reporting seen in high life change subjects was consistent regardless of the ship's schedule of operations and regardless of the organ system of illness considered.