Military Sexual Trauma: A Thematic Analysis of Impact and Interventions

Media driven awareness of military sexual trauma (MST), meaning sexual harassment or assault that occurred while serving in the US Military, may have increased since the term was first coined in 2004, yet the services available for survivors of MST could still be lacking. Percentages of MST prevalence range, with one research study finding 80% of women serving in the military have experienced some type of sexual harassment or assault (Meade, Glenn, & Wirth, 2013). Previous research has also shown that MST is connected to depression, suicidal ideation, and PTSD, along with other mental health conditions.* During the present study, responses from semi-structured interviews indicated that individual trust towards others, depression, anxiety, career change, and a shift in worldview were consequences of MST. Participants also expressed potential improvements that can be developed by healthcare providers to support women veterans who are living with the impacts of MST. *Further references available upon request