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

Authors

Kristin M. Mattocks, Health Services Research and Development Services
Sally G. Haskell, Yale University
Erin E. Krebs, Indiana University School of Medicine
Amy C. Justice, Yale University
Elizabeth M. Yano, University of California - Los Angeles
Cynthia Brandt, Health Services Research and Development Services

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

Social Science & Medicine 74 (2012) 537-545; doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.10.039

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 combatrelated injuries and trauma, and are also often subject to in-service sexual assaults and sexual harassment. However, little is known regarding howwomen 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 JanuaryeNovember 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.