PREVALENCE AND TIMING OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN A SAMPLE OF MALE AND FEMALE US ARMY SOLDIERS

Objective: This study was designed to assess the prevalence and timing of sexual assault experiences in a sample of U.S. Army soldiers, Meth ods: Self-administered surveys were completed by 555 male and 573 fema le soldiers in combat service and combat service support units, Result s: One-fifth of the women reported a completed rape (22.6%), and 50.9% of women and 6.7% of men reported any sexual assault, The majority of sexual assaults occurred before the soldiers entered the military, an d 25% of women and 1% of men reported an attempted or completed rape d uring childhood. Sexual assault history also varied by sociodemographi c characteristics. Conclusion: Results suggest that a history of child hood sexual abuse may be more widespread among female soldiers than am ong civilian women, and that ascribed and achieved status characterist ics may differentially expose soldiers to sexual assaults both before and after they enter the military, Health care assessments should incl ude details of a soldier's sexual assault history.