title: Preliminary data suggest rates of male military sexual trauma may be higher than previously reported.
abstract: Stigma associated with disclosing military sexual trauma (MST) makes estimating an accurate base rate difficult. Anonymous assessment may help alleviate stigma. Although anonymous research has found higher rates of male MST, no study has evaluated whether providing anonymity sufficiently mitigates the impact of stigma on accurate reporting. This study used the unmatched count technique (UCT), a form of randomized response techniques, to gain information about the accuracy of base rate estimates of male MST derived via anonymous assessment of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) combat veterans. A cross-sectional convenience sample of 180 OEF/OIF male combat veterans, recruited via online websites for military populations, provided data about history of MST via traditional anonymous self-report and the UCT. The UCT revealed a rate of male MST more than 15 times higher than the rate derived via traditional anonymous assessment (1.1% vs. 17.2%). These data suggest that anonymity does not adequately mitigate the impact of stigma on disclosure of male MST. Results, though preliminary, suggest that published rates of male MST may substantially underestimate the true rate of this problem. The UCT has significant potential to improve base rate estimation of sensitive behaviors in the military.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Veterans Studies.
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hickling
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Earleywine
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Health.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.affiliation: University at Albany - State University of New York.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing.
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057545:Social Stigma; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult