title: Recent Sexual Trauma and Adverse Health and Occupational Outcomes Among U.S. Service Women.
abstract: Sexual trauma is prevalent among military women, but data on potential effects are needed. The association of sexual trauma with health and occupational outcomes was investigated using longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study. Of 13,001 U.S. service women, 1,364 (10.5%) reported recent sexual harassment and 374 (2.9%) recent sexual assault. Women reporting recent sexual harassment or assault were more likely to report poorer mental health: OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.71, 2.25], and OR = 3.45, 95% CI [2.67, 4.44], respectively. They reported poorer physical health: OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.20, 1.62], and OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.04, 1.85], respectively. They reported difficulties in work/activities due to emotional health: OR = 1.80, 95% CI [1.59, 2.04], and OR = 2.70, 95% CI [2.12, 3.44], respectively. They also reported difficulties with physical health: OR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.37, 1.75], and OR = 1.52 95% CI [1.20, 1.91], respectively, after adjustment for demographic, military, health, and prior sexual trauma characteristics. Recent sexual harassment was associated with demotion, OR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.12, 1.93]. Findings demonstrated that sexual trauma represents a potential threat to military operational readiness and draws attention to the importance of prevention strategies and services to reduce the burden of sexual trauma on military victims.
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Mental Health, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millegan
authors.affiliation: Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Emma K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Milburn
authors.affiliation: Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: LeardMann
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Street
authors.affiliation: Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Trone
authors.affiliation: Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Crum-Cianflone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology; D002322:Career Mobility; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States