Sexual coercion is a form of abuse that occurs when one person forces another to have unwanted sexual intercourse. It can be physical, verbal, emotional, or digital. In the context of military service, this type of abuse has become increasingly common due to factors such as cultural norms around masculinity and the prevalence of war trauma among combatants.
Little research has been conducted on its psychosexual consequences for soldiers' mental health, relational functioning, and personal identity.
Mental Health Consequences
Sexual coercion can lead to significant mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide attempts. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, and difficulty sleeping. Anxiety manifests as worry, fear, panic attacks, and hypervigilance. PTSD develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and includes intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, and changes in mood and thought patterns. Suicidal ideation involves thoughts about death and dying. Research suggests that sexual coercion may trigger these symptoms because it violates personal boundaries, causes shame and guilt, and damages self-esteem. Victims may feel powerless, betrayed, and confused, which contributes to their distress.
Relational Functioning
In addition to affecting victims individually, sexual coercion also impacts their relationships with others. Some may withdraw from intimacy altogether, while others may engage in risky sexual behavior to regain control over their bodies. This can strain marriages and other interpersonal connections, leading to further isolation and loneliness. Partners may feel betrayed, angry, or confused, causing them to question the relationship's viability. Children may also be affected if the victim is a parent. They may struggle with trust issues, feel unsafe, and wonder why their caregiver didn't protect them from harm. In some cases, families may become dysfunctional as they try to navigate the fallout from abuse.
Personal Identity
Sexual coercion can also alter how soldiers view themselves and their place in society. Some may blame themselves for not resisting enough or believe they are weak or unworthy of respect. Others may adopt an aggressor mindset, becoming violent or manipulative towards future partners. These identities can lead to further psychological problems, such as low self-esteem, anger, and dissociation. It can also damage professional identity by eroding trust between comrades and superiors. Soldiers may feel ashamed, isolated, and unable to perform their duties adequately.
Sexual coercion has severe mental health consequences that extend beyond individual victims to their relational functioning and personal identity. Its prevalence among combatants suggests military leaders must address this issue proactively. Victims should receive supportive care tailored to their needs, including therapy, medication, and restorative justice efforts.
What are the psychosexual consequences of sexual coercion on mental health, relational functioning, and personal identity in soldiers?
Sexual coercion is when one partner is pressured, forced, threatened, or manipulated into having sex against their will. It can lead to several negative psychosocial effects, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self-esteem, guilt, shame, anger, and substance abuse. Victims may feel isolated, powerless, embarrassed, ashamed, betrayed, confused, and frightened.