title: Unit support protects against sexual harassment and assault among national guard soldiers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite concerns about increased sexual harassment and assault after the 2013 legislation repealing the ban on women in combat, little research has examined military factors that could prevent sexual harassment and assault during deployment. This study examined whether unit support, which reflects the quality of service members' relationships within their unit, protects against sexual harassment and assault during deployment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 1,674 Ohio Army National Guard service members who reported at least one deployment during a telephone survey conducted in 2008 and 2009. Participants completed measures of sexual harassment/assault, unit support, and psychosocial support. Logistic regression was used to model odds of sexual harassment/assault.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 13.2% of men (n = 198) and 43.5% of women (n = 74) reported sexual harassment, and 1.1% of men (n = 17) and 18.8% of women (n = 32) reported sexual assault during their most recent deployment. Greater unit support was associated with decreased odds of sexual harassment and assault.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of men and women reported sexual harassment/assault. Greater unit support was associated with diminished odds of sexual harassment/assault during deployment. Programming designed to improve unit cohesion has the potential to reduce sexual harassment and assault.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York. Electronic address: klw2153@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liberzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.
authors.forename: Marijo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Tamburrino
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Karestan C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koenen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009820:Ohio; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*