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Women at war: Understanding how women veterans cope with combat and military sexual trauma

Author

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  • Mattocks, Kristin M.
  • Haskell, Sally G.
  • Krebs, Erin E.
  • Justice, Amy C.
  • Yano, Elizabeth M.
  • Brandt, Cynthia

Abstract

The wars in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, OIF) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF) have engendered a growing population of US female veterans, with women now comprising 15% of active US duty military personnel. Women serving in the military come under direct fire and experience combat-related injuries and trauma, and are also often subject to in-service sexual assaults and sexual harassment. However, little is known regarding how women veterans cope with these combat and military sexual trauma experiences once they return from deployment. To better understand their experiences, we conducted semi-structured interviews with nineteen OEF/OIF women veterans between January–November 2009. Women veterans identified stressful military experiences and post-deployment reintegration problems as major stressors. Stressful military experiences included combat experiences, military sexual trauma, and separation from family. Women had varying abilities to address and manage stressors, and employed various cognitive and behavioral coping resources and processes to manage their stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattocks, Kristin M. & Haskell, Sally G. & Krebs, Erin E. & Justice, Amy C. & Yano, Elizabeth M. & Brandt, Cynthia, 2012. "Women at war: Understanding how women veterans cope with combat and military sexual trauma," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 537-545.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:4:p:537-545
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.10.039
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kimerling, R. & Street, A.E. & Pavao, J. & Smit, M.W. & Cronkite, R.C. & Holmes, T.H. & Frayne, S.M., 2010. "Military-related sexual trauma among veterans health administration patients returning from Afghanistan and Iraq," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(8), pages 1409-1412.
    2. Seal, K.H. & Metzler, T.J. & Gima, K.S. & Bertenthal, D. & Maguen, S. & Marmar, C.R., 2009. "Trends and risk factors for mental health diagnoses among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans using department of Veterans Affairs Health Care, 2002-2008," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(9), pages 1651-1658.
    3. Linos, Natalia, 2009. "Rethinking gender-based violence during war: Is violence against civilian men a problem worth addressing?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(8), pages 1548-1551, April.
    4. Kimerling, R. & Gima, K. & Smith, M.W. & Street, A. & Frayne, S., 2007. "The Veterans Health Administration and military sexual trauma," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(12), pages 2160-2166.
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