Prevalence of Sexual Trauma and Mental Health Sequelae Among Three Representative Samples of Reserve and National Guard Personnel

Background: Individuals who have experienced repeat sexual violence victimization face adverse mental and physical health outcomes, including immune and stress response functioning. We aim to further understand repeat sexual violence victimization to develop responsive and appropriate treatment for survivors of sexual violence. Methods: We present the immunological and contextual findings of a participant ( N = 1) who experienced repeat sexual violence victimization during her enrollment in The THRIVE Study, a prospective case–control study of women aged 14–45 years, who have experienced recent consensual vaginal penetration (“controls”) or forced vaginal penetration (“cases”). Participants complete a survey, HIV/sexually transmitted infection, and pregnancy testing, blood sampling for C-reactive protein and adrenocorticotrophic hormone, collection of cervicovaginal fluid for immunological biomarkers, and self-collection of saliva samples for cortisol measurements, across study visits (Baseline, 1, and 3 months). Results: The case study participant, aged 18 years upon enrollment, experienced sexual trauma before four of five study visits. Trends in the mental health indicators demonstrate reciprocal fluctuations in adverse mental health and resilience in accordance with revictimization and circumstantial changes. Suppressed immune biomarkers appear to correlate with increased adverse mental health, while mental health recovery trends with immunological recovery. The participant presents with dysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis diurnal profile. Conclusions: This profile illustrates the intra-individual biobehavioral impact of experience with revictimization over the course of 6 months, capturing experiences that are rarely studied either longitudinally or with the depth of the current research. The findings underscore the value of monitoring cervicovaginal immune functioning and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation in coordination with changes in mental health over the course of repeated sexual trauma.

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When solidarity hurts: (Intra)cultural trust, cultural betrayal sexual trauma, and PTSD in culturally diverse minoritized youth transitioning to adulthood

Transcultural Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/13634615211062970 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136346152110629

Author(s):

Jennifer M. Gómez

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Culturally Competent ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Trauma Outcomes ◽

Trauma Research ◽

Group Members ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Societal Inequality

Sexual trauma is associated with PTSD, with perpetrators putting women and girls more at risk than men and boys. Young adulthood is a time where risk of victimization and susceptibility to mental health problems increase. Certain contributors of costly trauma outcomes may be affected by the larger context of societal inequality. Cultural betrayal trauma theory (CBTT) highlights cultural betrayal in within-group trauma in minoritized populations as a dimension of harm that affects outcomes. In CBTT, within-group trauma violates the (intra)cultural trust—solidarity, love, loyalty, connection, responsibility—that is developed between group members to buffer against societal inequality. This violation, termed a cultural betrayal, can contribute to poorer mental health. The purpose of the current study is to address a gap in the CBTT literature by examining the role of (intra)cultural trust on the association between cultural betrayal sexual trauma and symptoms of PTSD among diverse minoritized youth transitioning to adulthood. Participants ( N = 173) were diverse minoritized college students, who completed a 30-min online questionnaire at a location of their own choosing. Participants received course credit and could decline to answer any question without penalty. The results reveal that the interaction between cultural betrayal sexual trauma and (intra)cultural trust predicted clinically significant symptoms of PTSD. These findings have implications for increased cultural and contextual specificity in trauma research in minoritized populations, which can aid in the development and implementation of culturally competent interventions for diverse minoritized youth survivors of sexual trauma.

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Consequences of Military Sexual Trauma for Perinatal Mental Health: How Do We Improve Care for Pregnant Veterans with a History of Sexual Trauma?

Journal of Women s Health ◽

10.1089/jwh.2019.8154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 5-6

Author(s):

Jodie G. Katon ◽

Megan R. Gerber ◽

Yael I. Nillni ◽

Elizabeth W. Patton

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Perinatal Mental Health ◽

Military Sexual Trauma ◽

History Of

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Is Military Sexual Trauma Associated with Trading Sex Among Women Veterans Seeking Outpatient Mental Health Care?

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation ◽

10.1080/15299732.2011.551509 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 290-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Strauss ◽

Christine E. Marx ◽

Julie C. Weitlauf ◽

Karen M. Stechuchak ◽

Kristy Straits-Tröster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Women Veterans ◽

Military Sexual Trauma ◽

Outpatient Mental Health

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Civilian Unemployment and Mental Health: The Moderating Impact of Alcohol Misuse in Returning National Guard

Military Medicine ◽

10.7205/milmed-d-14-00466 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 180 (9) ◽

pp. 986-993

Author(s):

Sara Kintzle ◽

Hyunsung Oh ◽

Sherrie Wilcox ◽

Anthony Hassan ◽

Kathy Ell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Alcohol Misuse ◽

National Guard

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2108 Factors associated with dual use of VA and civilian healthcare among U.S. National Guard and Reserve soldiers

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2018.285 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (S1) ◽

pp. 82-82

Author(s):

Bonnie M. Vest ◽

Jessica A. Kulak ◽

D. Lynn Homish ◽

Gregory G. Homish

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Health ◽

National Guard ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Health Anxiety ◽

Dual Use ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Electronic Survey ◽

Future Care ◽

Disability Rating

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Approximately 25%–45% of veterans are dual users of VA and civilian healthcare. In order to maximize patient outcomes, understanding factors related to dual use is important. This study examined mental and physical health factors related to dual use of VA and civilian healthcare among U.S. National Guard and Reserve (NG/R) soldiers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: NG/R soldiers and their partners (n=411 couples) participated in an electronic survey assessing health and health behaviors. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between mental health (anxiety, depression, PTSD, anger), general health, and VA disability status at baseline, with usage of both VA and civilian healthcare among male soldiers (n=109) at the second year follow-up, controlling for age and race. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In the final adjusted models, of the mental health conditions, only anxiety was related to dual use (OR: 1.08, 1.01–1.16, p<0.05). Having a VA disability rating (OR: 4.00, 1.22–13.18; p<0.05) was also related to being a dual user. General health was not related to dual use. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: While research has identified demographic characteristics (e.g., rurality, race, income) related to dual healthcare use, our results indicate that mental health, particularly anxiety, may also be related to dual use. Further study is needed to tease out the prime drivers of dual use to identify future care delivery mechanisms that will maximize treatment outcomes and minimize duplicative care.

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