Gender as a moderator of the association of military sexual trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms

Self Cite

Sexual harassment and violence is a grave public health concern and risk for revictimization increases following initial exposure. Studies of sexual revictimization in military samples are generally limited to women and are focused on rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with no examination of how revictimization relates to interpersonal outcomes, such as relationship or sexual satisfaction. The current study addressed these gaps in a sample of 833 women and 556 men service members/veterans. Self-reported outcomes of PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, sexual function, and relationship satisfaction were compared across those reporting exposure to sexual harassment and violence before the military only (i.e., pre-military), during the military only (i.e., military sexual harassment and violence [MSV]), before and during the military (i.e., revictimization), and to no exposure. More than half of women (51.14%, n = 426) reported revictimization and only 5.79% ( n = 28) of men reported revictimization. Among women, those reporting MSV or revictimization tended to report higher PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation relative to pre-military sexual violence and no sexual violence exposure. No interpersonal outcomes were significantly different among these sexual violence groups. Among men, revictimization was associated with higher PTSD, depression, and sexual compulsivity. PTSD and depression were also higher among those reporting MSV only. No effects were found for premilitary sexual trauma exposure only or relationship satisfaction for either group. Findings highlight the particularly bothersome nature of MSV, whether it occurred alone or in tandem with premilitary sexual violence. Findings also show unique gender differences across outcomes, suggesting interventions following sexual harassment and violence may differ for men and women.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Data for the current study were extracted from two gender-specific parent studies that assessed MSV, sexual health, and satisfaction in relationships among women (N = 833; (Blais, 2020)) and men SM/Vs in partnered relationships (N = 556; (Blais, 2021)).…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Violence in Military Service Members/Veterans Individual and Interpersonal Outcomes Associated with Single and Multiple Exposures to Civilian and Military Sexual Violence

Blais

Livingston

Barrett

et al. 2022

Self Cite

“…Prior studies on MSA have either been restricted to women samples (e.g., Blais, 2020; Blais et al, 2020, 2022; Creech & Orchowski, 2016) or had a small sample of men with MSA (e.g., Tannahill et al, 2021). By having a larger sample of men with a history of MSA, the current study was able to test whether the relationships between revictimization experiences, PTC, and PTSS varied by gender.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic Cognitions Differ Between Men and Women after Military Sexual Assault Revictimization in Their Contribution to PTSD Symptoms

Tannahill

Barrett

Zalta

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Sexual revictimization is heightened among military service members and veterans and is associated with greater posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and severity. The heightened distress following revictimization may be due to posttraumatic cognitions (PTC), which include negative beliefs about the self and world, and self-blame. Moreover, it is unclear whether men and women experience different levels of PTC. The current study tested PTC (overall and subdomains) as a possible mediator between sexual revictimization and PTSS severity, and gender as a possible moderator of these associations. Revictimization was defined across time periods (military sexual assault [MSA] only vs. premilitary sexual trauma + MSA) and in military rape frequency (0, 1, 2+). Participants were 400 ( n = 200 [50%] male) service members/veterans with a history of MSA and completed online, anonymous, self-report questionnaires. PTC mediated the association between revictimization and PTSS severity. A significant interaction of gender suggested that men reported high overall PTC and PTC about the self regardless of revictimization; by contrast, overall PTC and PTC about the self were lower for women in response to MSA only and increased with revictimization. Results also showed men were more sensitive to PTC about self-blame as it pertains to more severe PTSS compared to women. There were no unique gender interactions when assessing revictimization by rape frequency, although PTC (overall, all subdomains) significantly mediated the association between rape frequency and PTSS severity. PTC may be a beneficial target when treating PTSS in men, and may be especially heightened in women who have experienced revictimization.

“…Therefore, it may be that this type of harassment, if experienced in low volumes, does not produce a strong psychological impact in terms of provoking PTSD on females but is perceived as an unavoidable occupational hazard creating anxiety and sadness. The findings of a recent study on different types of military sexual trauma (MST) and their associations of PTSD seem to support this idea: while women were overall at higher risk for many of the PTSD symptoms, when considering those reporting harassment-only MST men were at higher risk of severe PTSD symptoms (Tannahill et al, 2021). Second, the association of sexual harassment with PTSD severity trended toward significance; with larger sample size and therefore more power, we may have seen a significant (weak) association between PSTD symptoms and the experience of sexual harassment for female iHAWs as well.…”

Section: Health Associationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Incidence and Severity of Sexual Harassment, and its Impact on Mental Health in a Cohort of International Humanitarian Field-Workers

Martinmäki

Jong

Komproe

et al. 2023

To date, there have been no cohort studies of sexual harassment incidence and its relation to mental health within humanitarian field-workers. Research among numerous occupations suggests an association between workplace sexual harassment and several health complaints. This study examined the incidence and severity of sexual harassment and its association with changes in mental health in a cohort of international humanitarian aid field-workers (iHAWs). Four hundred and seventy-eight iHAWs filled in questionnaires about sexual harassment, depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as part of a larger study on health and well-being. Six percent of male and 18% of female iHAWs reported experiencing sexual harassment during their latest field assignment, with most reporting low levels of nonphysical forms of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment was predictive of negative changes in both depression and anxiety symptom severity between before and after an assignment for females; for males, it predicted negative changes in PTSD symptom severity. Sexual harassment did not predict utilization of mental healthcare services within 2 months after the end of assignment. The current findings are the first figures derived from a representative sample of iHAWs on the incidence of sexual harassment during a field assignment and show sexual harassment to be a relatively common and present issue. The findings are mostly in line with the extant literature and underscore the importance of attending to the issue of sexual harassment in the humanitarian sector.