Due to their unique job demands and environment, members of the armed forces are more susceptible to experiencing sexual coercion than civilians. Sexual coercion is defined as the attempt to obtain nonconsensual sex through the use of force, threats, deceit, or intimidation. It can range from unwanted touching to rape and includes both verbal and physical forms of aggression. Examples include sexual harassment, voyeurism, exhibitionism, forced pornography viewing, sextortion, and prostitution. Military personnel experience high levels of sexual coercion due to various factors such as close quarters living arrangements, social hierarchies, power imbalances, cultural norms, and combat stressors. This exposure has significant implications for psychosocial adaptation and emotional resilience in the long term. Research suggests that victims of sexual coercion suffer from a variety of negative outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, avoidance behavior, flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, guilt, shame, self-blame, suicidal ideation, and interpersonal difficulties. Victims may also exhibit symptoms of dissociation, numbing, detachment, and derealization as well as cognitive impairments in attention, memory, executive functioning, and problem-solving.
They may develop negative attitudes toward themselves and their bodies and be more likely to engage in risky behaviors, leading to further trauma. These effects can last for years after the incident and have far-reaching consequences on relationships, work performance, mental health, and quality of life. Prevention and treatment efforts are critical for mitigating these impacts and promoting resilience among military members. Interventions should prioritize building a culture of consent, providing support and resources, fostering empathy and trust, teaching communication skills, normalizing help-seeking behavior, and addressing underlying issues such as alcohol use, gender roles, and sexual attitudes. By recognizing and responding to sexual coercion, we can better support our military personnel and improve their overall well-being.
How do experiences of sexual coercion impact long-term psychosocial adaptation and emotional resilience in military personnel?
Experiences of sexual coercion can have significant impact on long-term psychosocial adaptation and emotional resilience in military personnel. Psychologically, such experiences may lead to trauma symptoms such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, as well as decreased self-esteem, shame, and guilt.