Collateral damage: Military sexual trauma and help-seeking barriers.

Abstract

Objective: Military Sexual Trauma (MST) can be a harmful aspect of military life. Despite the availability of resources, Service members may encounter barriers that impede help-seeking for sexual assault (i.e., encountering logistical constraints, anticipating stigma). We examined how such barriers undermine wellbeing (i.e., exacerbate symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among MST survivors, both women and men. Additionally, we investigated how these barriers aggravate depression among Service members who feel unsafe from sexual assault. Method: The current study was a secondary analysis of the 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (WGRA; N = 26,505). Personnel who had experienced MST (n = 542) and those who felt unsafe from sexual assault (n = 1,016) were included in the analyses. Results: The most commonly endorsed barriers were fears that they would be seen as weak, their leaders may treat them differently, and their coworkers might have less confidence in them. As expected, both MST survivors and those feeling unsafe reported more negative psychological symptoms as a function of help-seeking barriers. Conclusions: Results suggest that removal of these barriers may be helpful for the protection of mental health—among assault victims and nonvictims alike. For instance, efforts could be taken to reduce logistical barriers (e.g., allowing time for health care visits) and stigma (e.g., enhancing training for all personnel who work with MST survivors).

Prevalence of Military Sexual Trauma and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Military Personnel: a Descriptive Study

“…The 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members was utilized to measure MST among LGBT military personnel (Holland, Rabelo, & Cortina, 2016; Rock, Lipari, Cook, & Hale, 2010). Participants were asked to complete 19 items on the frequency of sexual harassment and sexual assault experienced within the past 12 months.…”

Comparing PTSD treatment retention among survivors of military sexual trauma utilizing clinical video technology and in-person approaches

“…18,25,26 Social barriers may also impede treatment engagement, some of which may be particularly salient to individuals who have experienced a sexual trauma. For instance, veterans have described fears of being judged for seeking therapy and/or for disclosing their trauma, 14,27 as well as a fear that providers and institutions may not believe their report of experiencing MST. 14,27,28 Veterans have also reported feeling betrayed by military affiliated institutions, which are perceived to have cultivated and/or perpetuated an environment in which MST could occur.…”

“…For instance, veterans have described fears of being judged for seeking therapy and/or for disclosing their trauma, 14,27 as well as a fear that providers and institutions may not believe their report of experiencing MST. 14,27,28 Veterans have also reported feeling betrayed by military affiliated institutions, which are perceived to have cultivated and/or perpetuated an environment in which MST could occur. 28 This may impede engagement in services due to mistrust of institutions that are supposed to provide protection.…”

Being my own Virgil: My journey through Inferno from military sexual trauma.

“…Barriers to care within both the military and VA health care systems may prolong the time an individual takes to seek treatment for MST-related health problems. Recent research has also indicated that perceived barriers to help-seeking following military sexual assault, particularly those related to logistical factors (e.g., difficulty getting time off work) and stigma (e.g., being perceived as weak), may contribute to the risk of experiencing depressive or PTSD symptoms (Holland, Rabelo, & Cortina, 2015). In addition, it may take years for one to recognize an incident as sexual trauma, and in some cases, a fragmented memory of the event may delay acknowledgment even more .…”

“…Efforts should be made in increasing accessibility and acceptability of immediate care for victims of sexual trauma in the military. The ability to and likelihood of seeking mental health care while in the military are dependent on a range of individual and environmental characteristics, but previously noted barriers have largely related to stigma surrounding mental health, concerns about the impact on one's military career, and tenets of military culture which encourage "toughness" and stoicism (Eckart & Dufrene, 2015;Greene-Shortridge, Britt, & Castro, 2007;Holland et al, 2015;Mengeling, Booth, Torner, & Sadler, 2015). For military victims of sexual trauma, these barriers may be compounded by the need to report the trauma in order to receive treatment, as well as concerns about confidentiality and retaliation (Burns, Grindlay, Holt, Manski, & Grossman, 2014).…”