The relationship between sexual activity and health has been studied extensively, but there is limited research on how military service can impact an individual's sexual self-worth. Military service often involves exposure to traumatic events such as combat or witnessing violence that can lead to chronic stress. This study aimed to examine whether this type of stress was associated with negative effects on veterans' long-term sexual satisfaction and self-worth.
To participate in the study, participants were recruited through social media advertising and word-of-mouth referrals. Participants completed an online survey which assessed their demographics, psychological factors including depression and PTSD symptoms, sexual history, and level of military service involvement. The main outcome measure was sexual satisfaction, measured using the Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS) questionnaire.
Results showed that participants who had experienced high levels of combat during their military service reported lower overall sexual satisfaction scores compared to those who had low levels of combat experience (p 0.024).
They were less likely to report being satisfied with certain aspects of their sex life, including sexual intimacy (p 0.019), frequency of sex (p 0.037), and frequency of orgasm (p 0.025). These findings suggest that combat experiences may have a lasting effect on veterans' sense of sexual wellbeing.
Results indicated that higher levels of perceived stress related to military service were associated with decreased sexual satisfaction (p 0.028), particularly for those with moderate to severe PTSD (p 0.012). Participants who perceived their military service as having a significant impact on their sexual identity also reported lower ISS scores (p 0.035).
These findings highlight the need for further research on how military service can affect sexual functioning in veterans.
This study suggests that chronic stress related to military service may have negative effects on long-term sexual self-worth among veterans. Further studies are needed to investigate potential interventions or treatments that could improve sexual outcomes in this population.
How does chronic stress related to service influence a veteran's long-term sense of sexual self-worth?
When serving in the military, soldiers often face situations that can be stressful due to their exposure to combat trauma. This type of prolonged stress can affect a person's mental health, leading to conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.