Suicide Ideation in Female Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma: The Trauma Source Matters

Abstract

Female veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) are at elevated suicide risk, yet knowledge is limited regarding correlates of suicide ideation (SI) in this population. MST is associated with a higher risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relative to other trauma types; however, no studies have examined whether experiencing SI differs based on the source of PTSD symptoms (MST-related, non-MST-related). Female service members/veterans (SM/Vs; n = 311) who screened positive for MST and reported exposure to a Criterion A event completed an online survey assessing self-reported demographics, PTSD, depression, the source of their PTSD symptoms, and SI. Ninety-one (29.3%) reported experiencing current SI, and 223 (71.7%) identified MST as the source of their current PTSD symptoms. Participants who identified MST as the source of their PTSD symptoms were over two times more likely to report SI, compared to those who described non-MST-related events as the source of their PTSD symptoms. Compared to those who reported the source of their PTSD symptoms as combat-/deployment-related, those who identified MST as the source were at least three times as likely to report current SI. Results underscore the importance of efforts to address MST-related PTSD symptoms when working with female SM/Vs.

Higher anhedonia and dysphoric arousal relate to lower relationship satisfaction among trauma‐exposed female service members/veterans

“…Traumas were coded as MST versus all else given the predominance of those identifying MST ( n = 263, 55.14%) as their index trauma. Trauma type was included as a covariate given that MST, relative to other traumas, is associated with higher psychological distress (e.g., PTSD, depression, and sexual dysfunction) in several studies (e.g., Blais & Monteith, 2018; DiMauro, Renshaw, & Blais, 2018; Guina, Nahhas, Kawalec, & Farnsworth, 2019).…”

“…Relationship duration and type were allowed to correlate. Trauma type was allowed to correlate with each PTSD symptom cluster given previous research showing that MST, relative to other traumas, is associated with higher PTSD symptoms (Blais & Monteith, 2018; DiMauro et al, 2018; Guina et al, 2019). Model fit was examined using χ 2 , the comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker‐Lewis index (TLI), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA).…”

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicidal Self-Directed Violence Among U.S. Military Personnel and Veterans: A Systematic Review of the Literature From 2010 to 2018

“…Because of this, it was not possible to differentiate rates and associations based on types of trauma. Therefore, given research suggesting that risk (e.g., for SI) may differ based on trauma type (Blais and Monteith, 2019), researchers should assess and report type of index trauma among their samples, especially in research pertaining to SI, SA, and suicide.…”

Military Sexual Trauma: An Update for Nurse Practitioners

“…25 Survivors of MST who are at highest risk for death by suicide include those who report feeling unloved, as though their life is unbearable, and as though their problems are unsolvable. 26 Individuals with MSTrelated trauma symptoms are more than twice as likely to report suicidal ideation compared with those with trauma due to non-MST exposure, 27 and the severity of suicidal ideation may be worse in MST survivors. 28 In addition to suicidal ideation, MST survivors are at risk for engagement in nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, with rates as high as 25%.…”