37. Relationship of sexual trauma with the health of women veterans

Abstract

Background: Women in the military are at risk for exposure to war-related trauma as well as sexual assault and harassment. There is also a significant population for whom these traumatic experiences are layered on pre-military histories of childhood violence and sexual abuse and/or assault. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among sexual trauma and mental and physical health in female veterans. Methods: Participants were recruited at a day of recognition for women veterans. Fifty-three women volunteered to participate in the study. Variables included measures of PTSD, sexual harassment and assault, depression, sleep quality, perceived stress, anger and anxiety. Allostatic markers included lipids, glucose, blood pressure, BMI, and inflammatory markers. Results: Preliminary findings showed that 72% experienced sexual harassment in the military while 25% reported sexual assault. Sexual harassment and assault were significantly related to total cholesterol, perceived stress, depression, pain, anger, anxiety, sleep quality and PTSD. There was a significant relationship between stress and IL-6 while sleep quality was related to IL-10 and IL-6. Implications: The association of history of sexual assault and abuse with mental and physical health indicators suggest that these women are at great risk for illness. Interventions at all levels, from personal to societal, are required to deal with these issues.