Associations Between Interpersonal Trauma Histories, Perpetrator Characteristics, and Mental Health Symptom Profiles Among Veterans Seeking Treatment Associated With Military Sexual Trauma

Violence Vict. 2025 May 13;40(2):179-198. doi: 10.1891/VV-2023-0154.

ABSTRACT

Military sexual trauma (MST), an unfortunately common experience reported by U.S. service members and veterans, frequently leads to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other related conditions. However, little is known about how contextual features of MST correlate with specific clinical phenotypes and symptom presentations. The current study examined correlations between contextual factors of MST and cumulative interpersonal trauma history with diverse clinical outcomes, including PTSD symptom clusters, depressive symptoms, worry, and posttraumatic cognitions in a sizeable treatment-seeking sample (N = 472). Nuanced patterns emerged. Generally, additional exposure to childhood sexual abuse and adult intimate partner violence (IPV; describing nonsexual violence perpetrated by an intimate partner) was associated with elevations in particular negative posttraumatic cognitions as were multiple perpetrator MST events. In contrast, recurrent MST and additional sexual trauma in adulthood were not predictive. Multiple perpetrator MST and adult IPV were also associated with distinct PTSD symptom cluster profiles. Lifetime emotional and physical abuse were related to multiple deleterious outcomes and evidenced the strongest effects. Fewer relationships were identified between cumulative trauma exposure and elevated worry and depression. A better understanding of cumulative and contextual trauma experiences and phenotypic variability in clinical presentation may inform effective tailoring of and innovations in treating trauma-related symptoms.

PMID:40360277 | DOI:10.1891/VV-2023-0154