Military sexual trauma among Veterans using and not using VA justice-related programing: A national examination

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research 2023-08, Vol.164, p.46-50
• Main Authors: Holliday, Ryan, Holder, Nicholas, Smith, Alexandra A., Desai, Alisha, Hoffmire, Claire A., Forster, Jeri E., Monteith, Lindsey L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Criminal legal involvement; Military sexual trauma; Sex-stratified; Veteran
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.067

Veterans accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Justice Program (VJP) services have high rates of depression, substance misuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Although factors that may confer risk for mental health sequelae among these Veterans have been identified (e.g., childhood abuse, combat exposure), limited research has examined report of military sexual trauma (MST) among Veterans accessing VJP services. As survivors of MST experience myriad chronic health conditions which necessitate identification and referral to evidence-based care, identifying MST survivors among those accessing VJP services may facilitate referral to appropriate services. We examined whether MST prevalence differed between Veterans with and without a history of VJP service use. Sex-stratified analyses were conducted with 1,300,252 male (13.34% accessing VJP) and 106,680 female (10.14% accessing VJP) Veterans. In crude models, male and female Veterans accessing VJP services were significantly more likely to screen positive for MST (PR = 3.35 and 1.82 respectively). Significance was maintained in models that adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, VA service use, and VA mental health use. VJP service settings may serve as a critical intercept for identifying male and female survivors of MST. Using a trauma-informed approach to screen for MST in VJP settings is likely warranted. Moreover, integration of MST programing into VJP settings may be beneficial. •Veterans accessing VJP services were more likely to screen positive for MST.•Results maintained when adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, and VA service use.•Integration of MST-specific programing in VJP settings may be warranted.