(PS6-D78) Contrasting Ecological Contexts of Veteran Women and Men Seeking Mental Health Treatment Following Military Sexual Trauma

Background: Military sexual trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service and is commonly occurring, with approximately 16% of Veterans endorsing MST (Wilson, 2018). MST has consistently been associated with negative mental health sequelae including posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorders (Lofgreen et al., 2017; Suris et al., 2013). Research investigating risk and protective factors for these adverse outcomes has expanded with a recent focus on examining the socioecological context of Veterans who have experienced MST. An understanding of these contextual factors will support a holistic approach for promoting wellbeing among the Veteran population during periods of elevated mental health stress.

Aims: The present study contrasted socioecological contexts of Veteran men and women seeking mental health treatment following MST in the domains of economic sufficiency, housing, supportive relationships, interpersonal violence, and spirituality.

Methods: Veterans seeking mental health services associated with exposure to MST attended evaluations and treatment planning sessions at a Midwestern VHA PTSD specialty clinic. As part of routine clinical care, Veterans (N = 579) completed a semi-structured interview including diagnostic screening and surveys assessing psychosocial resources and needs. Demographic characteristics, military history, and diagnostic clinical outcomes were described with means and percentages. Between-group gender differences in socioecological resources were assessed using chi-square analyses for dichotomous resources and Mann Whitney U for rank data.

Results: Results revealed several significant differences between Veteran men and women including differences in economic sufficiency (sufficient financial resources endorsed by significantly fewer men; able to make ends meet for men 36%; for women 46%), the presence of a support system (endorsed by significantly more women) and, the desire for additional peer relationships if Veteran does not currently have them (endorsed by significantly more women). Although not significantly different for Veteran men versus Veteran women, a sizeable minority of Veterans faced housing insecurity (18%), an unsafe living environment (5%), and interpersonal violence in the past year (11%). In addition, most Veterans reported having spiritual beliefs that help them cope (78%).

Conclusion: Greater clarity of the socioecological contexts of Veteran men and women will augment clinicians’ abilities to determine potential stressors or assets, assist in consideration of resources during treatment planning, promote problem-solving for potential barriers to treatment engagement, and reduce gender-related disparities in our understanding of Veterans’ experiences and needs in the aftermath of MST.