title: The influence of gender on suicidal ideation following military sexual trauma among Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration.
abstract: No studies have examined whether military sexual trauma, as measured and defined within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), is associated with suicidal ideation among Veterans in VHA care, when taking prior suicide attempts into account. Research regarding the role of gender in this association is also limited. The present study examined: (1) whether military sexual trauma was associated with the presence of past-week suicidal ideation among 354 Veterans in VHA (310 men, 44 women); (2) whether gender moderated the association between military sexual trauma and suicidal ideation. Information regarding military sexual trauma, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and psychiatric diagnoses was obtained from self-report instruments and medical records. Adjusting for age, gender, combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, negative affect, and lifetime suicide attempt, Veterans with military sexual trauma were significantly more likely to report suicidal ideation, compared to Veterans without military sexual trauma. Furthermore, the association between military sexual trauma and suicidal ideation was stronger for men compared to women. These results contribute to a growing literature identifying military sexual trauma as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Veterans in VHA care and emphasize the importance of screening for suicidal ideation among survivors of military sexual trauma.
authors: Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: Lindsey.Monteith@va.gov.
authors: Lindsey L
authors: LL
authors: Monteith
authors: Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors: Nazanin H
authors: NH
authors: Bahraini
authors: Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors: Bridget B
authors: BB
authors: Matarazzo
authors: Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Holly R
authors: HR
authors: Gerber
authors: Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Kelly A
authors: KA
authors: Soberay
authors: Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors: Jeri E
authors: JE
authors: Forster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058014:Veterans Health; D000067453:War Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Gender; Military; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Sexual assault; Sexual harassment; Sexual violence; Suicidal ideation