Military Sexual Trauma among Male and Female Veterans Essay Example

links deleterious mental health issues to stress resulting from sexual assault. This is due to the possibility of the victim developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kintzle et al., 2015). It deals with female veterans’ harassments or assaults in Southern California. Using mental care data obtained from female veterans, PSTD proved to be directly related to sexual assaults. Many female veterans reported to have experienced sexual assaults during their military service. Survivors who reported receiving medical care immediately after the assaults still met the cutoff for a PTSD diagnosis.

Most survivors received medical counseling within 12 months after the incident. According to the article, sexual assault cases are increasing, rising by about 88% between 2007 and 2010 (Kintzle et al., 2015). Females serving in the military are the most vulnerable since males dominate in the U.S. military (Yanikdag, 2013). Most case of sexual assaults in the Army goes unreported due to personal fear of professional and social retaliation. Only 15% of the affected veterans reported the case to the military authorities (Kintzle et al., 2015). According to the article, most female veterans had MST-related mental health care causing high likelihood of developing PTSD.

Differences and Similarities of the Articles

Both articles differ in several ways. The first one deals with military sexual trauma in male veterans while the second one talks about military sexual trauma in women. Moreover, the first article focuses on the influence, effects, and experiences of military sexual trauma (Mondragon et al., 2015). Besides, article two deals with health disorders associated with the sexual trauma and the utilization of health care to the survivors. In addition, in the first article adverse experiences to the trauma are

not included in the second article.
On the other hand, similarities are evident between the two articles. In both articles, military sexual trauma on veterans has widely been discussed. Also, the main content in the articles is the sexual trauma that occurs while veterans offered services. Moreover, impacts initiated by military sexual trauma appear in the two articles. Furthermore, health-related issues linked to the traumatic and experiences by military servants are evident in the two articles (Mondragon et al., 2015).

Strengths and Weakness Evaluation

Both articles contained strengths and weaknesses. Strengths have been evaluation. First, sexual assaults appear articulated as a significant challenge to the military services in the articles. They recognize the fact that military personnel are facing sexual assaults silently. However, measures are in place so far to fight the vice. Reports indicate that individual factors like gender challenges, economic, and social challenges drive sexual assaults case (Kintzle et al., 2015). Effects of sexual trauma appear evaluated critically. Mental problems were stated as the worst effects of the assault or harassment. The different experiences of the survivors were clearly assessed and possible solutions offered.

On the other hand, both articles have some weaknesses. In the first article, only male survivors were used making the comparison of effects to both genders impossible (Yanikdag, 2013). The other article, female veterans were used to bring in the gender making comparison impossible too. Random sampling methods were used in both articles. This influenced the danger of personal bias and hence inaccuracy in the collected data (Kintzle et al., 2015). The medical data used by the researchers were only for few cases. However, the scholars ended up concluding that all survivors had

similar experiences (Yanikdag, 2013). The second article argues that sexual assaults were only subjected to the females being a minority. This is in contrast with the first article that shows males similarly face sexual assault.

Importance of the Articles in Clinical Practice with Military Affiliated Families

Both articles are important for military affiliated families’ clinical practice. Military personnel are constantly facing sexual assaults. Information from the articles enables military clinics to budget for emergency drugs, services, and interventions for the survivors. Clinical officers also may use the articles to provide awareness as a strategy of fighting the vice. They can furthermore encourage victims of PTSD to report to the authorities and even seek medical attention (Yanikdag, 2013). Affiliated families can use the articles to employ different methods in assisting those affected. Sexual assaults are a reality and anyone is susceptible. Such families will have to accept any family member who becomes a victim and encourage them to seek medical care. Family love may minimize numerous case of PTSD (Kintzle et al., 2015).

How Articles Fits in Bigger Context of Clinical Practice with Military Affiliated Families

All discussed articles fit in the context of military affiliated families’ clinical practice. They provide data on victims of military sexual assaults. Such data gives an accurate picture of what is happening in the military service. As a result, the information help in facilitating psychological preparation to affiliated families in case their loved ones fall victim (Kintzle et al., 2015). Clinical practice can use the data to understand the therapeutic effects of the unattended cases and how best to care for the survivors is provided. Effective clinical practice can be enhanced through the articles’

findings.

Application of the Articles to Race, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Issues

Moreover, the articles apply to sexual orientation, race, and gender issues linked to military affiliated families’ clinical practice. Clinical practices should be availed in consideration to gender (Yanikdag, 2013). Female veterans are mostly at high danger of military sexual trauma effects. It is, therefore, evident that more patients are comprised of females. Military sexual trauma varies from one gender to another. More care is necessary to females as stated in these articles. In most cases, military sexual trauma is subjected based on racial diversity (Mondragon et al., 2015). Threats occur to veterans of minority races. Military affiliated families of a minority races are mostly affected. In addition, the articles apply to sexual orientation of military sexual trauma.

Article’s Interesting Aspect

Interesting aspects in all articles comprise military reactions to the sexual trauma. Military affiliated families in most cases do not report the sexual assault or harassment cases. This is because the veterans fear that attacks will be subjected to them. Veterans decide to cooperate for their benefit. They also do not apply for medication or behavioral intervention (Mondragon et al., 2015). This means that they choose to bear with all the consequences of the military sexual trauma.

Conclusion

In conclusion, military sexual trauma has become common in military bases. The two articles discuss how veterans are affected. The first article focused on male veterans while the second article on female veterans. Both articles apply to gender, sexual orientation, and race oriented issues. Sexual Trauma is not a good vice. Military bases should devise methods that can help eradicate Military Sexual assault. In addition, the public has to get alerts

of sexual trauma and actions to take after its exposure. A society that poses such vices is not worthy of appreciation. Human beings feel uncomfortable in a life that is intimidating.

References

1. Kintzle, S., Schuyler, A. C., Ray-Letourneau, D., Ozuna, S. M., Munch, C., Xintarianos, E., ... & Castro, C. A. (2015). Sexual trauma in the military: Exploring PTSD and mental health care utilization in female veterans. Psychological services, 12(4), 394.
2. Mondragon, S. A., Wang, D., Pritchett, L., Graham, D. P., Plasencia, M. L., & Teng, E. J. (2015). The influence of military sexual trauma on returning OEF/OIF male veterans. Psychological services, 12(4), 402.
3. Sexual Trauma in the Military: Exploring PTSD and Mental Health Care Utilization in Female Veterans (2016). Military Sexual Trauma: Prevalent and Under Treated. online Available at: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/11/military-sexual-trauma.aspx Accessed 9 Feb. 2016.
4. The Influence of Military Sexual Trauma on Returning OEF/OIF Male Veterans (2016). Retrieved 9 February 2016, from http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/ser-ser0000050.pdf
5. Yanikdag, Y. (2013). Healing the nation: prisoners of war, medicine and nationalism in Turkey, 1914-1939. Edinburgh University Press