Publication year
2016
Citation Title
A closer examination of sexual trauma during deployment: Not all sexual traumas are associated with suicidal ideation
Journal Name
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Journal Volume
46
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
46-54
DOI
10.1111/sltb.12171
Summary
Different types of sexual trauma during deployment were analyzed to explore possible links to suicidal ideation. Service members who experienced sexual trauma that included physical violence were more likely to report suicidal ideation than Service members who experienced verbal sexual trauma.
Key Findings
Verbal offensive sexual remarks were not associated with suicidal ideation except when the remarks were related to being threatened for lack of engaging in sexual activity.
Exposure to sexually-related physical violence (e.g., being forced to have sex) was positively related to suicidal ideation.
The highest amount of sexual trauma that was reported was experiences of offensive sexual remarks.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer peer support groups to Service members who have experienced a history of sexual trauma
Provide education to Service members and their families about the relationship between a history of certain types of sexual assault and suicidal ideation
Develop partnerships with community organizations to provide supportive services for Service members who have experienced sexual trauma
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage routine screening for suicidal ideation of Service members, especially among those with histories of trauma (e.g., sexual trauma, combat exposure, etc.) to facilitate services for those in need
Increase awareness campaigns to educate professionals who work with military families about the relationship between sexual trauma and suicidal ideation
Urge the development of protocols about how to assist Service members who experience severe suicidal ideation
Methods
Participants were recruited upon admission to inpatient trauma-focused mental health treatment.
Veterans completed self-report measures that assessed suicidal ideation, history of sexual assaults during deployment, and demographic information.
Analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among suicidal thoughts, and history of sexual trauma.
Participants
Participants were 199 OEF/OIF/OND Veterans who were admitted to an inpatient Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. The average age of the sample was 32.5 years (SD=7.4).
The sample consisted of 171 men and 28 women. Most of the participants were White (61%), as well as Black (23%), Latino (7%), Asian American (1%), multiracial (6%) or identified as other (3%).
The following service branches were represented in the sample: Army (68%), Marine (24%), Air Force (4%) and Navy (4%).
Limitations
Although demographic data were collected, none were used in the analyses which could have added more context by which to interpret the findings.
There was no explanation of the type of inpatient treatment the participants attended, which could have had an impact on participants’ suicidal ideation and the results presented in this study.
There was no description of the nature of the suicidal ideation, so it is unclear if participants’ suicidal ideation is related to past sexual trauma, other trauma, or current stressors.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate the study with surveys that have specific questions about suicidal ideation related to sexual trauma
Collect more data from female Service members regarding their experiences with sexual trauma
Conduct studies on the prevalence and incidence of sexual trauma among Service members
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Military personnel can be exposed to a wide range of sexual trauma while deployed, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. We examined whether different types of sexual trauma during deployment associated with recent suicidal ideation among previously deployed OEF/ OIF/OND veterans admitted to trauma-focused treatment (n = 199). More severe forms of sexual trauma (e.g., sexual assault) were significantly and positively associated with suicidal ideation. In contrast, sexual trauma involving verbal remarks (e.g., sexual harassment) was not associated with suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest that sexual harassment and sexual assault during Military personnel can be exposed to a wide range of sexual trauma while deployed, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. We examined whether different types of sexual trauma during deployment associated with recent suicidal ideation among previously deployed OEF/ OIF/OND veterans admitted to trauma-focused treatment (n = 199). More severe forms of sexual trauma (e.g., sexual assault) were significantly and positively
associated with suicidal ideation. In contrast, sexual trauma involving verbal remarks (e.g., sexual harassment) was not associated with suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest that sexual harassment and sexual assault during deployment may be differentially associated with suicidal ideation.
associated with suicidal ideation. In contrast, sexual trauma involving verbal remarks (e.g., sexual harassment) was not associated with suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest that sexual harassment and sexual assault during deployment may be differentially associated with suicidal ideation.
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