https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Paulson2024

Paulson, J. L., Florimbio, A. R., Rogers, T. A., Hartl Majcher, J., Bennett, D. C., & Sexton, M. B. (2022). Contrasting ecological contexts among treatment-seeking military sexual assault survivors: Consideration of relationships with sexual and gender minority identification. Psychological Services. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000656

The social-ecological model suggests that there are both risk and protective factors in every “level” of our environment (e.g., individual, interpersonal, and community). In a sample of Veterans seeking mental health treatment for military sexual trauma (N = 493), this study explored risk and protective factors at different social-ecological levels and examined whether risk and protective factors differed between sexual and gender minority (SGM) Veterans and non-SGM Veterans. Veterans seeking treatment from a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) clinic between 2009–2019 (n = 63 SGM; n = 430 non-SGM) self-reported the presence of risk and protective factors at the individual (i.e., financial sufficiency, spiritual beliefs), interpersonal (i.e., social support system, exposure to interpersonal violence), and community (i.e., housing instability) levels. In general, SGM Veterans had a harder time making ends meet (i.e., financial sufficiency) and experienced more housing instability than non-SGM Veterans.

https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000656

Mental health
Veterans
Trauma

Multiple branches
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy
Coast Guard

Veteran

Veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Quantitative Study
Qualitative Study

Paulson, Julia L., Florimbio, Autumn Rae, Rogers, Travis A., Hartl Majcher, Jessica, Bennett, Diana C., Sexton, Minden B.

Survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) seeking mental health services may present with concerns extending beyond symptom relief. Attention to social, economic, and coping resource contexts is salient for care consideration. Although those identifying as sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are overrepresented among service members exposed to assaultive MST, research contrasting ecological resource variability among treatment seekers is limited. The present study delineates modifiable risk and protective factors that might be used to inform MST-related health care for Veterans, broadly, and SGM-identifying Veterans, specifically. Veterans (N = 493, 12.8% identifying as SGM) presenting for treatment secondary to military sexual assault completed a semistructured clinical interview and intake survey including demographic characteristics, diversity-related factors, and access to psychosocial resources. SGM/non-SGM-identifying groups were contrasted on individual-, interpersonal-, and community-level ecological characteristics. SGM-identifying Veterans were less likely to report access to sufficient financial resources and had double the prevalence rate of housing instability in contrast to non-SGM-identifying Veterans. No significant differences emerged in terms of past-year interpersonal violence exposure, endorsement of helpful spiritual beliefs, or availability of social support based on SGM identification. Findings underscore the importance of attending to the intersection of SGM identity and ecological factors that can influence Veterans’ clinical presentation and treatment engagement. Recommendations for provision of MST services are made.

Educational Publishing Foundation

Article
REACH Publication

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