Sexual coercion is defined as unwanted sexual activity that occurs without explicit consent and can take various forms such as verbal pressure, physical force, threats, and intimate partner violence (IPV) 1. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, hyperarousal, negative alterations in mood and cognitions, and social withdrawal following exposure to trauma 2. Sexual coercion may cause PTSD symptoms in military personnel, leading to impairments in their personal and professional lives.
Little research has explored the relationship between these two constructs and how psychological mechanisms mediate it. This article seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating the psychological mechanisms underlying the link between sexual coercion and PTSD among military personnel.
Psychological Mechanism 1: Trauma Symptomatology
Sexual coercion causes PTSD symptoms due to its traumatic nature 3. According to trauma theory, traumatic experiences are those that involve a threat of death or serious injury causing fear, helplessness, and powerlessness 4. In military settings, sexual coercion can be experienced through rape, unwanted touching, forced nudity, degradation, and other forms of humiliation that violate the victim's autonomy and dignity 5. These experiences trigger acute traumatic reactions, including intrusive memories, emotional numbness, and flashbacks, which persist beyond the initial episode 6. Victims who experience trauma often feel distressed, helpless, and hopeless, which may lead to feelings of guilt, shame, anger, and self-blame, resulting in severe emotional disturbances that impede daily functioning 7.
Psychological Mechanism 2: Perceived Threats to Self
Sexual coercion is perceived as a threat to one's physical, psychological, and social well-being, leading to post-traumatic stress 8. Victims experience fear, anxiety, and hypervigilance following such incidents 9, which interfere with their ability to regulate thoughts, emotions, and behavior 10. They may also develop negative beliefs about themselves, others, and the world, leading to isolation and withdrawal from relationships. Sexual coercion victims may also experience dissociative symptoms, memory loss, and somatization 11, which can increase vulnerability to PTSD symptoms.
Psychological Mechanism 3: Attribution of Blame
Victims of sexual coercion often attribute responsibility for the incident to themselves rather than the perpetrator 12. This attribution process leads to self-blame, which increases PTSD symptomatology and hinders recovery 13. Victims believe they could have prevented or escaped the situation, blaming themselves for not resisting, leaving, or reporting it 14. This internalized victim-blaming further affects their self-esteem and self-efficacy, making them feel powerless and helpless 15.
This article explored three psychological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between sexual coercion and PTSD in military personnel. The first mechanism involves trauma symptomatology, whereby sexual coercion causes acute reactions that persist beyond the initial episode. The second mechanism is perceived threats to self, whereby victims experience fear, anxiety, and hypervigilance, resulting in a sense of isolation and withdrawal. The third mechanism is attributed blame, whereby victims blame themselves for the incident, impairing their self-esteem and self-efficacy. Future research should investigate other psychological mechanisms underlying the link between these two constructs to develop effective interventions for military personnel experiencing sexual coercion.
What psychological mechanisms mediate the relationship between sexual coercion and post-traumatic stress in military personnel?
The mechanisms that mediate the relationship between sexual coercion and post-traumatic stress in military personnel are likely complex and multifaceted, involving both individual factors such as personal history of trauma and exposure to combat, and cultural factors such as attitudes towards masculinity and gender roles within the military context.