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Sadler AG, Mengeling M, Booth B, Torner J. The Military Environment: Factors Associated With Active Component And Reserve/National Guard Servicewomen’s Risk Of Sexual Assault In Non-Deployed Settings. Paper presented at: International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Annual Symposium; 2015 Nov 6; New Orleans, LA.
We sought to identify risk/protective factors associated with active component(AC) and Reserve/National Guard (RNG) sexual assault in military (SAIM) in non-deployed locations. A Midwestern community sample of OEF/OIF women completed telephone-interviews assessing military, demographic, and assault characteristics. Military environmental factors were assessed with 31 questions from prior research and The Sexual Experiences Questionnaire. Of 13339 participants: 33% were officers, 50% AC , 79% currently serving. SAIM occurred in 17% of AC and 15% of RNG. Risk/protective items were grouped using confirmatory factor analysis. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of assault in military. We analytically controlled for age, race, deployment history, current service, pre-military assault, marital status, service-length, and rank. AC vs RNG odds ratios (OR) were identified by grouped factors. Gender harassment: 1.75 vs 2.84 sexual hostility: 1.85 vs 3.76; unwanted sexual attention: 2.36 vs 4.37; sexual coercion: 1.93 vs 3.38; on-base and off-duty factors: 1.95 vs 4.56; self-protective behaviors: 2.12 vs 4.04; and military environment experiences: 2.29 vs 5.16. Factors in the military environment associated with risk of SAIM were identified and have implications for prevention. AC and RNG have unique military environments in non-deployed locations and different SAIM risks.
