Sexual coercion is a severe violation that has been reported to be highly prevalent among military personnel. It refers to unwanted sexual contact without consent, which can take different forms such as verbal pressure, physical force, threats, alcohol/drug abuse, etc., that may lead to PTSD symptoms later in life.
There are several psychological mechanisms involved in this process, including cognitive appraisal, emotional processing, and memory consolidation. This paper will explore these processes and explain how they mediate the relationship between sexual coercion and PTSD among soldiers.
Cognitive Appraisal: How do soldiers make sense of their experience? Cognitive appraisals refer to the way individuals interpret and evaluate events in their lives, and they play a crucial role in how people respond to stressors like sexual coercion. In soldiers, cognitive appraisal of traumatic experiences determines whether they develop post-traumatic stress disorder or not.
Soldiers who perceive sexual coercion as uncontrollable, dangerous, and threatening to their identity are more likely to develop PTSD than those who do not. Similarly, soldiers who view themselves as victims rather than agents with control over their situations are also vulnerable to developing PTSD.
Emotional Processing: How do soldiers feel about their experiences? Emotions are subjective responses to external stimuli and play a critical role in coping with trauma. Sexual coercion often leads to intense fear, shame, guilt, anger, humiliation, depression, and anxiety in soldiers. These negative feelings increase the risk of developing PTSD by reinforcing negative self-views and reducing self-esteem. Therefore, soldiers' emotional responses to sexual coercion affect their mental health outcomes.
Memory Consolidation: How do soldiers remember their experiences? Memory consolidation refers to the process whereby new memories become stable, lasting memories that can be recalled later on. Sexual coercion is associated with memory disturbances such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares. These intrusive memories activate the fight-or-flight response and lead to hyperarousal symptoms that characterize PTSD. Moreover, these memories may contribute to avoidance behavior (e.g., substance abuse, isolation) that aggravates PTSD symptoms.
Psychological mechanisms mediate the relationship between sexual coercion and PTSD among military personnel. Cognitive appraisals, emotional processing, and memory consolidation influence how soldiers respond to traumatic events like sexual coercion, which can cause severe mental health problems. Understanding these processes is essential for preventing and treating PTSD in soldiers exposed to sexual violence.
How do psychological mechanisms mediate the relationship between sexual coercion and post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers?
The trauma of combat can lead to an array of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by intrusive thoughts and memories about the traumatic event, avoidance behavior, negative changes in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal symptoms like jumpiness or difficulty sleeping.