A. Fontana et R. Rosenheck, DUTY-RELATED AND SEXUAL STRESS IN THE ETIOLOGY OF PTSD AMONG WOMEN VETERANS WHO SEEK TREATMENT, Psychiatric services, 49(5), 1998, pp. 658-662
Objective: The stressful experiences of women serving in the military
have been a focus of increasing concern. A model of the impact of stre
ss related to military duty and stress related to sexual abuse and har
assment on the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amo
ng female veterans was evaluated. Methods: Structural equation modelin
g was applied to data from 327 women treated in a VA clinical program
for women with stress disorders. The model was a chronological one and
included variables related to the women's premilitary experience, the
ir military service, and their postmilitary experience. Results: Altog
ether 48 percent of the sample served overseas, and 12 percent were ex
posed to enemy fire. A total of 63 percent reported experiences of phy
sical sexual harassment during military service, and 43 percent report
ed rape or attempted rape. Both duty-related and sexual stress were fo
und to contribute separately and significantly to the development of P
TSD. Sexual stress was found to be almost four times as influential in
the development of PTSD as duty-related stress. Postmilitary social s
upport played a highly significant mediational role between sexual str
ess during military service and development of PTSD. Conclusions: Wome
n's exposure to sexual stress in the military is much more prevalent t
han previously believed. It is particularly toxic for the development
of PTSD. Correct assessment is essential to effective treatment.