Recent Sexual Trauma and Adverse Health and Occupational Outcomes Among U.S. Service Women

Abstract

Sexual trauma is prevalent among military women, but data on potential effects are needed. The association of sexual trauma with health and occupational outcomes was investigated using longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study. Of 13,001 U.S. service women, 1,364 (10.5%) reported recent sexual harassment and 374 (2.9%) recent sexual assault. Women reporting recent sexual harassment or assault were more likely to report poorer mental health: OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.71, 2.25], and OR = 3.45, 95% CI [2.67, 4.44], respectively. They reported poorer physical health: OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.20, 1.62], and OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.04, 1.85], respectively. They reported difficulties in work/activities due to emotional health: OR = 1.80, 95% CI [1.59, 2.04], and OR = 2.70, 95% CI [2.12, 3.44], respectively. They also reported difficulties with physical health: OR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.37, 1.75], and OR = 1.52 95% CI [1.20, 1.91], respectively, after adjustment for demographic, military, health, and prior sexual trauma characteristics. Recent sexual harassment was associated with demotion, OR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.12, 1.93]. Findings demonstrated that sexual trauma represents a potential threat to military operational readiness and draws attention to the importance of prevention strategies and services to reduce the burden of sexual trauma on military victims.

Military-related sexual assault in Canada: a cross-sectional survey

“…1 Although comparing rates of military-related sexual assault across studies is complicated by methodological differences, 2,3,7,9,15 the prevalence rates we observed are slightly lower than those reported in a meta-analysis of primarily USbased research (23.6% for women and 1.9% for men). 15 Previous research has shown deployment, especially with combat, to be a period of risk for military-related sexual assault, 16,17 owing to factors such as lengthy periods without permitted sexual activity and close living quarters combining men with relatively few women. 6 We did not find an elevated adjusted risk of military-related sexual assault among women who had been deployed in the past.…”

Patterns of Smoking and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Following Sexual Trauma Among U.S. Service Members

“…Because the items do not ask whether the sexual trauma occurred while in the military we restricted the sample to those who were in the military when they submitted their questionnaire, ensuring that the participant was in the military for the full 3‐year period that was reported on. Consistent with previous Millennium Cohort studies (Millegan et al., ; Millegan, Wang, LeardMann, Miletich, & Street,2016), responses to these items were coded as a 3‐level variable: no report of sexual harassment or sexual assault (referent group), report of sexual harassment only, and report of sexual assault with or without sexual harassment. Sexual trauma was measured at study baseline, but was allowed to vary over the study time when additional follow‐up was available; however, once someone indicated that he or she had experienced a sexual trauma, that exposure carried forward.…”

Sexual Trauma and Adverse Health and Occupational Outcomes Among Men Serving in the U.S. Military

“…Despite this fact, the bulk of existing research on military sexual trauma has focused on women. The short-and long-term consequences of sexual trauma among women have been well established and include increased risk for substance abuse, anxiety, eating disorders (O'Brien & Sher, 2013), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and negative occupational outcomes (Kimerling, Gima, Smith, Street, & Frayne, 2007;Maguen et al, 2012;Millegan et al, 2015). Little empirical work has examined the effects of sexual trauma on military men, but data from men in the general population indicate that men who experience sexual trauma have an increased likelihood of mental health symptoms, physical health problems, poor perceived health, and suicide attempts (Belik, Stein, Asmundson, & Sareen, 2009;Golding, 1996Golding, , 1999aGolding, , 1999bO'Brien & Sher, 2013;Ullman & Brecklin, 2002).…”