To evaluate the prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST)
among US veterans, identify sociodemographic and military characteristics of
MST, and examine the relationships between MST and psychiatric comorbidities,
functioning/quality of life, and mental health treatment utilization.
Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience
in Veterans Study, a contemporary, nationally representative survey of 1,484 US
veterans conducted September-October 2013. Poststratification weights were
applied to analyses to permit generalizability of results to the US veteran
population. Outcomes measured include history of MST, trauma histories,
lifetime and current DSM-IV mental disorders, functioning and quality of life,
and utilization of mental health treatment.
The overall prevalence of MST was 7.6% and was higher among
female than male veterans (32.4% vs 4.8%) and younger than older veterans
(22.8% among veterans aged 18-29 years vs 4.5% among veterans aged 60+ years).
After adjustment for sociodemographic and military characteristics, MST was
associated with elevated rates of current major depressive disorder,
posttraumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder; past history of suicide attempt and
current suicidal ideation; and decreased mental and cognitive
functioning and quality of life. MST was also associated
with increased current utilization of psychotropic medication and
psychotherapy or counseling, independent of psychiatric
morbidities.
7.6% of US veterans screen positive for MST, with
substantially higher rates among female and younger veterans. MST is associated
with elevated rates of several psychiatric morbidities and suicidality, reduced
functioning and quality of life, and increased mental health treatment
utilization, independent of other sociodemographic, military, and mental health
factors. These results suggest that MST is prevalent among US veterans and associated
with elevated health burden. Findings can help inform efforts to identify
at-risk veterans and characterize the concomitant health burden and needs
associated with MST in this population.
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By:
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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