Citation

Jaycox LH, Morral AR, Street A, Schell TL, Kilpatrick D, Cottrell L. Rand Health Q. 2023; 10(2): e8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Rand Corporation)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

37200827

PMCID

PMC10187550

Abstract

Women serving in the U.S. military are more likely to report mental health problems than men, including symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Women also experience much higher rates of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and sexual assault than men. This study examines how unwanted gender-based experiences among military service members relate to differences in health. The authors find that, once experiences of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault are accounted for, gender differences in health are largely attenuated. That is, the vulnerability to physical and mental health problems among female service members appears to be highly correlated with these unwanted gender-based experiences. The results highlight the possible health benefits of improved prevention of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault, and they indicate the need to address the mental and physical health of service members exposed to these types of experiences.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Gender Discrimination; Military Health and Health Care; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Sexual Assault; Sexual Harassment