Sexual Violence and Mental Health Symptoms Among National Guard and Reserve Soldiers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reserve and National Guard (NG) soldiers report disproportionate mental health problems relative to active duty military upon returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. However, few studies have examined whether exposure to particular types of traumatic events (e.g., lifetime sexual violence) is associated with this increased burden of psychopathology. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the prevalence of lifetime sexual violence exposure as well as the adjusted odds and population attributable fraction of psychopathology associated with sexual violence in a large sample of male and female Reserve and NG soldiers. DESIGN: Baseline structured telephone interviews were conducted in 2009. PARTICIPANTS: 1,030 Reserve (23 % female) and 973 NG (15 % female) soldiers. MAIN MEASURES: Four items assessed lifetime and deployment-related sexual violence. Probable lifetime and past-year posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were assessed with the PTSD Checklist and the Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively. KEY RESULTS: Lifetime sexual violence prevalence was 37.4 % and 27.6 % among Reserve and NG women, and 4.3 % and 3.7 % among Reserve and NG men, respectively. Recent deployment-related sexual violence ranged from 1.4 to 2.6 % for women and 0 % for men. Regression analyses indicated that the adjusted odds of probable past-year and lifetime PTSD and depression were 1.2 to 3.5 times greater among those reporting sexual violence relative to non-victims. The proportion of probable lifetime PTSD and depression attributable to sexual violence was 45.2 % and 16.6 %, respectively, in the Reserves, and 10.3 % and 6.2 %, respectively, in the NG. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime sexual violence prevalence was high among female soldiers, with approximately one-third of Reserve and National Guard women reporting a history. The majority of sexual violence was not related to the most recent deployment; however, sexual violence contributed to a high burden of psychopathology. Findings emphasize a need to screen for lifetime sexual violence and associated mental disorders in military samples.

Opportunities and Gaps in Primary Care Preventative Health Services for Transgender Patients: A Systematic Review

“…48 The low rate Pap tests among transgender men and assigned-female nonbinary individuals are likely due to discomfort surrounding pelvic anatomy, high rates of trauma compounding gender dysphoria-based discomfort, and lack of access to providers with experience seeing transgender patients. 42,48,77 Coupled with the high rates of condomless receptive sex among transgender men who have sex with cisgender men, 35,44,45 transgender men may face significant risks for cervical cancer that remains undetected due to decreased screening. There is an urgent need for interventions that focus on the sexual health needs of transgender men, as well as changes in clinic policies that allow transgender men to feel empowered to access sexual healthcare screenings.…”

Trajectories of posttraumatic stress symptoms after civilian or deployment traumatic event experiences.

“…The Reserve National Guard (RNG) Study is a nationally representative prospective cohort survey of U.S. Reserve and National Guard members that were assessed at one-year intervals from 2010 to 2013 (N = 2,003) (Walsh et al, 2014). The longitudinal sample consisted of 1,741 participants, divided into a civilian-related trauma group ( n = 1429; 82.1%) and a deployment-related trauma group ( n = 825; 47.4%) who at baseline had experienced, respectively, one or more civilian- or deployment-related traumatic events in their lifetime, responded to the PTSS items, and completed two or more waves of data.…”

Suicide Prevention

“…33 Factors including relationship discord, legal/ disciplinary problems, financial difficulties, and health problems are thought to play a role. 34 Other risk factors include sexual violence 35 and a history of childhood trauma. 36 Though the US Air Force has reported success in reducing suicide rates, the effectiveness of military prevention programs has been difficult to measure.…”