Military sexual trauma in the United States: Results from a population-based study

Background: The reported prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST) has increased over the past decades in the United States, yet scarce population-based studies have examined the prevalence, correlates, and health burden of MST in the general veteran population.

Methods: Data were from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a population-based survey of veterans (n = 4069).

Analyses: (1) estimated the prevalence of MST; (2) identified sex-stratified sociodemographic, military, and trauma characteristics associated with MST; and (3) examined sex-stratified associations between MST and psychiatric comorbidities, functioning, disability, and treatment utilization.

Results: Female veterans reported substantially higher rates of MST (44.2%) than male veterans (3.5%). Relative to male veterans without MST histories, male veterans with MST histories had nearly 3-fold increased odds of reporting future suicidal intent, 2-to-3-fold greater odds of screening positive for current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and generalized anxiety disorder; and nearly 2-fold increased odds of being disabled. Male veterans with MST histories also scored lower on mental, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning (d's = 0.16-0.29). Relative to female veterans without MST histories, female veterans with MST histories had 5-fold greater odds of current PTSD, 2-fold greater odds of engaging in mental health treatment, and scored lower on psychosocial functioning and higher on somatic symptoms (both d's = 0.25).

Limitations: Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.

Conclusions: A substantial proportion of veterans in the U.S. experience sexual trauma during their military service, and these experiences are associated with an elevated health burden.