Sexual assault in the U.S. military: A review of the literature and recommendations for the future
Section snippets
Prevalence of sexual assault in the military
Sexual violence is an endemic problem in our society, as evidenced by the fact that approximately 18% to 25% of American women report experiencing either an attempted or completed rape in their lifetimes (Fisher et al., 2000, Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). A more recent national study reported that 11% of U.S. women reported an incident of completed rape in their lifetime (Basile, Chen, Black & Saltzman, 2007). Among men, approximately 3% to 4% of American men report an attempted or completed rape
Psychological effects of assault
The psychological effects of sexual assault have been well-documented for both women and men. Studies show that men and women who have been assaulted often have high rates of depression and anxiety symptoms (e.g., Elliott et al., 2004, Ratner et al., 2003, Thompson et al., 2003), substance abuse and dependence (e.g., Burnam et al., 1988, Ullman & Brecklin, 2003), sexual dysfunctions (Becker et al., 1986, Elliott et al., 2004, van Berlo & Ensink, 2000), and post-traumatic stress disorder
Why are these rates so high?
Even considering the lowest reported sexual assault rates, a large number of servicemembers are being affected by sexual violence. The occurrence of this violence goes directly against the values, honor codes, and laws of the U.S. military and instead harms those who have sworn to serve and protect their country. In order to prevent sexual violence, it is important to understand factors that may facilitate or increase violence in the military. It is likely that there is no single factor, but a
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