Citation

Calhoun PS, Schry AR, Dennis PA, Wagner HR, Kimbrel NA, Bastian LA, Beckham JC, Kudler H, Straits-Tröster K. J. Interpers. Violence 2018; 33(15): 2439-2464.

Affiliation

VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA Phoenix VA Healthcare System, AZ, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260515625909

PMID

26802046

Abstract

Military sexual trauma (MST) has been linked with increased rates of mental health disorders among veterans. Few studies have addressed how MST is related to use of VA and non-VA health care. The purpose of the current study was to (a) examine the association between MST, combat experiences, and mental health outcomes (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and depression) and (b) examine the association of MST and use of VA and non-VA health care services among female veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Female respondents to a survey assessing Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans' needs and health (N = 185) completed measures of demographic variables, military history, combat exposure, MST, PTSD, and depression symptoms, and use of VA and non-VA health care. Overall, 70% of the sample experienced one or more combat-related experiences and 15.7% endorsed MST during deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. MST and combat exposure were both positively associated with PTSD and depression symptoms even after controlling for the effects of demographic and military history variables. MST was associated with increased use of VA mental health services in bivariate results but was not independently related to VA service utilization after accounting for PTSD and depression symptoms. Approximately half of the women who reported MST had not used VA health care. Continued outreach and education initiatives may be needed to ensure veterans understand the resources available to address MST-related mental and physical health problems through the VA.

Language: en