Sexual Coercion is a serious issue that has been discussed more widely after the MeToo movement but little is known about its effects on those who serve in the military. Deployed soldiers face many challenges while serving their country such as high stress levels, PTSD, and depression. These issues can lead to mental disorders which make them susceptible to sexual coercion. This article will explore how sexual coercion affects the psychosexual health and mental wellbeing of deployed soldiers.
Psychosexual Consequences
There are several ways sexual coercion can impact the psychosexual health of a soldier. One way it may have an effect is through trauma response reactions. Traumatic events often trigger a flight-fight-freeze response which makes someone react in different ways when they experience danger. When faced with danger, some people may become aggressive or irrational in order to protect themselves. Others might freeze up and feel powerless in the moment. This reaction can cause anxiety and fear during intimate moments leading to difficulty connecting with others sexually. In addition, victims of sexual assault may develop avoidance behaviors where they avoid certain situations or activities related to sex due to negative associations with past experiences. This can also lead to difficulties forming relationships later on because trust has been broken due to prior abuse.
Mental Health Effects
Deployed soldiers may also experience feelings of guilt or shame following a sexual assault. Many victims believe that they should not have experienced what happened or that it was somehow their fault for putting themselves in this situation. They may even blame themselves if they did not resist enough or were too weak emotionally at the time of the incident. Guilt and shame can lead to depressive symptoms such as low self-esteem, hopelessness, and social isolation from friends and family members who do not understand what they are going through. It may be difficult for them to talk about what happened without feeling judged by those around them so they internalize these emotions instead. As a result, victims may struggle with PTSD symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and hypervigilance which all further impact mental health over time.
Sexual coercion is an issue affecting many deployed soldiers but little research has been done on its effects on psychosexual health and mental wellbeing specifically among military personnel. Understanding how sexual coercion affects our nation's heroes will help us better support them when they return home. By addressing these issues head-on we can provide necessary resources needed for healing after trauma such as counseling services and support groups dedicated exclusively towards supporting deployed veterans dealing with traumatic experiences related to sex/sexuality.
What are the psychosexual and mental health consequences of sexual coercion for deployed soldiers in combat zones?
Sexual coercion can lead to various psychological and emotional consequences such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts in military personnel who experience it during deployment. These psychological effects can be more severe among women than men due to gendered power dynamics and social stigmatization associated with sexual violence.