Name
#108 Assessing the acceptability of sleep health promotion interventions among active-duty Marines
Content Presented On Behalf Of:
Other entity not listed
Session Type
Poster
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Start Time
5:00 PM
End Time
7:00 PM
Location
Prince Georges Expo Hall E
Focus Areas/Topics
Trending/Hot Topics or Other not listed
Learning Outcomes
1) To describe the development of sleep-focused health promotion programs for active duty Marines
2) To demonstrate methods for assessing feasibility and acceptability of sleep-focused health promotion programs for Marines
3) To discuss considerations for implementing sleep health promotion programs in active duty military populations, including Marines
Session Currently Live
Description
Background: U.S. military personnel commonly report insufficient sleep, increasing the risk for adverse psychological and physical health outcomes, including suicidality. Sleep health promotion interventions can equip service members with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and address sleep issues early, before more serious health concerns arise. However, interventions must be appropriately tailored to the unique operational demands, needs and norms of different military communities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of three sleep health promotion interventions among U.S. Marines. Methods: Twenty-six active duty Marines (78.6% male; M=25.9 years, SD=4.8; 96% Enlisted) were recruited to participate in a mixed-methods evaluation. Participants completed at least one intervention: 1) Circadian, Light, and Sleep Skills program (CLASS-MC), a 30-minute in-person training adapted for Marines; 2) Sleep Leadership (SL), a 60-minute in-person training for Marine Corps leaders; 3) Insomnia Coach (IC), a self-directed mobile health app developed for veterans, trialed for 10-14 days. Participants completed a satisfaction survey assessing each intervention and either a focus group discussion or a one-on-one interview. Results: Thirteen Marines each completed CLASS-MC or SL, and 5 also used IC. Preliminary results indicate Marines were highly satisfied overall with the interventions (CLASS-MC: M=6.4, SD=.5; SL: M=6.3, SD=.7; IC: M=6.0, SD=1.0;Range: 1 strongly disagree-7 strongly agree) and most were “likely” or “extremely likely” to recommend the interventions to others (CLASS-MC: 69.2%; SL: 100%; IC: 100%). Aspects of CLASS-MC and SL rated highest and lowest were credibility of content (CLASS-MC: M=6.2, SD=.9; SL: M=6.9, SD=.2) and feasibility of the recommended sleep strategies, (CLASS-MC: M=5.7, SD=1.1; SL: M=5.6, SD=1.6; Range: 1-7), respectively. IC users were most satisfied with the relevance and clarity of the information (M=7.0, SD=0), whereas the tailoring for Marines scored lower (M=5.0, SD=1.4). Suggestions for improvement included adding more interactive components, case studies from Marines, and facts about the impact of nicotine on sleep to CLASS-M and SL, as well as simplifying some terminology in IC. Discussion: Marines were satisfied with all interventions and offered valuable feedback to further improve the tailoring of the content to ensure each reflects the unique sleep-related experiences and needs of Marines.