title: Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Health Treatment-Seeking in U.S. Active Duty Soldiers With Sexual Assault Histories.
abstract: Despite significant mental health needs among sexual assault (SA) victims in the military, little is known about treatment-seeking patterns or factors associated with service use. This study examined service use behavior, barriers, and facilitators of mental health treatment-seeking in an active duty sample of 927 U.S. Army soldiers with mental health problems. SA victims (n = 113) did not differ from non-victims on barriers or facilitators after adjusting for demographic and mental health variables, with stigma rated as the largest barrier. Most SA victims (87.6%) had sought informal support and 59.3% had sought formal treatment. One third of treatment-seekers had dropped out of treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified several correlates of treatment-seeking among SA victims: Black race (OR = 7.57), SA during the military (OR = 4.34), positive treatment beliefs (OR = 2.22), social support for treatment (OR = 2.14), self-reliance (OR = 0.47), and stigma towards treatment seekers (OR = 0.43). Mental health symptoms were not associated with treatment seeking. Findings suggested that treatment-facilitating interventions should focus on improving recognition of mental health symptoms, altering perceptions related to self-reliance, and reducing stigma. Interventions should also enlist support for treatment-seeking from unit members, leaders, and significant others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zinzow
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia L S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Pury
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Janelle H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raymond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult