Type, Time, & Context: The Role Of Military Sexual Trauma And Social Support On Suicidal Behaviors

• In Event: Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Victimization

Abstract

Suicide in the military remains a highly prevalent phenomenon, despite millions of dollars in federal monies to research and establish prevention programs. Much research identifies military sexual trauma (MST) as a predictor of suicide and social support as a protective factor from suicide. However, research surrounding these topics is disjointed and does not provide a holistic understanding of the relationship between MST and suicide. This study uses the Army Study to Assess Risk & Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) dataset—a nationwide longitudinal survey collected between 2009-2015—to examine the type, time, and context of victimization and social support to understand the etiology of military suicide under a unified framework.

Author

• Jacquelyn Burckley, University of South Florida