Citation

Blais RK, Brignone E, Fargo JD, Galbreath NW, Gundlapalli AV. Psychol. Trauma 2018; 10(4): 470-474.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/tra0000320

PMID

29016157

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Department of Veterans Affairs estimates of military sexual trauma (MST) suggest 27% of female veterans have experienced MST. However, Department of Defense data (Department of Defense, 2014) show that a subgroup of active-duty women do not report sexual assaults to a military authority, suggesting barriers to disclosure exist among military samples. No study of female veterans has examined rates of nondisclosure among those with previous screens for MST; these data could inform screening efforts and establishment of safe havens for candid disclosures.

METHOD: Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods survey, a history of MST, and postservice MST disclosures during screening and their associations with demographic, assault, and screening-setting characteristics were evaluated in 359 female veterans. Open-ended responses regarding barriers to disclosure were analyzed using editing analysis style.

RESULTS: Eighty-one percent (n = 289) reported MST. Of these, 50% (n = 143) reported a prior screening and 25% (n = 35) reported they did not disclose their true MST status. Veterans who experienced MST by a unit-member assailant were significantly less likely to disclose (adjusted odds ratio = 4.75, 95% confidence interval = 1.20-18.30). Disclosure barriers included stigma, experiential avoidance, and discomfort with the screening setting.

CONCLUSION: Creative interventions to reduce nondisclosure among female veterans, with specific attention to those assaulted by a unit member, are urgently needed. (PsycINFO Database Record

(c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en