Veteran Status and Paid Sex among American Men: Results from Three National Surveys

• In Event: 129 - Section on Peace, War, and Social Conflict Paper Session. New Directions in Peace, War and Social Conflict

Abstract

Little population-based, social scientific research examines the association between veteran status and ever paying for sex, although there are theoretical reasons to expect that such an association might emerge across the life course. We examine the relationship between veteran status and ever paying for sex among American men who turned 18 years old between 1922 and 2010 using data from three independent national samples: the 2005-2006 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project; the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey; and pooled data from the 1991, 1993, 1994, and 2010 General Social Survey. In each dataset, we find that veterans are significantly more likely than non-veterans to report ever having paid for sex: rates across the three sub-studies range from 10.86% to 14.57% among non-veterans and from 25.27% to 33.92% among veterans. In multivariate models that control for demographic and early-life factors to the extent possible with available data, the odds of ever paying for sex are estimated to be 2.25 to 3.10 times higher among veterans than among non-veterans. In a supplemental analysis of the GSS, we find that longer duration of service is associated with an increased odds of ever paying for sex. While these results do not demonstrate a causal relationship between serving in the military and ever paying for sex, the strength and consistency of the findings provides compelling evidence of an association that is worthy of further theorizing and empirical investigation.

Authors

• Andrew S. London, Syracuse University

• Janet M. Wilmoth, Syracuse University