Physical health status of female veterans: contributions of sex partnership and in-military rape

Brenda M Booth; Teri D Davis; Ann M Cheney; Michelle A Mengeling; James C Torner; Anne G Sadler

doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31827078e2

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Physical health status of female veterans: contributions of sex partnership and in-military rape

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Physical health status of female veterans: contributions of sex partnership and in-military rape

Brenda M Booth, Teri D Davis, Ann M Cheney, Michelle A Mengeling, James C Torner and Anne G Sadler

Psychosomatic medicine, Vol.74(9), pp.916-924

11/2012

DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31827078e2

PMID: 23071345

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether current physical health status in female veterans is associated with rape during military service and same-sex partnership. Retrospective computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1004 Midwestern US female veterans identified from Veterans Affairs electronic records were conducted. Data included rape history including rape in military, sex partnership history, demographics, and medical history including chronic pain, mental health (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), and the physical health component of the Short-Form 12-item interview (PCS-12). Physical health in this sample was lower than norm values [PCS-12: mean (standard deviation) = 43 [12]; norm: mean (standard deviation) = 50 [10]). Fifty-one percent of the participants reported rape in their lifetime, 25% reported rape in military, 11% reported history of women as sex partners, and 71% reported history of chronic pain. Multiple regression analysis indicated that physical health (PCS-12) was associated with chronic pain history (β = -.40, p < .001), rape in military (β = -.09, p = .002), and current PTSD (β = .07, p = .03), adjusting for demographic data. Mediational analysis indicated that chronic pain history significantly mediated relationships of women who have sex with women, childhood rape, PTSD, depression, and current substance use disorder with PCS-12. Both rape and sex partnership are adversely associated with lower physical functioning in female veterans. Clinicians evaluating the physical health of this population should therefore consider obtaining detailed sexual histories, and a multidisciplinary team is needed to address mental health issues in female veterans.

Child Abuse, Sexual - statistics & numerical data

Rape - psychology

Humans

Middle Aged

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology

Statistics as Topic

Child Abuse, Sexual - diagnosis

Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology

Homosexuality, Female - psychology

Young Adult

Chronic Pain - epidemiology

Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis

Homosexuality, Female - statistics & numerical data

Adult

Female

Quality of Life - psychology

Retrospective Studies

Interview, Psychological

Child

Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis

Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology

Rape - statistics & numerical data

Veterans - psychology

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology

Chronic Pain - psychology

Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology

Substance-Related Disorders - psychology

Veterans - statistics & numerical data

Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis

Health Status

Cohort Studies

Details

Title: Subtitle: Physical health status of female veterans: contributions of sex partnership and in-military rape
Creators: Brenda M Booth - HSR&D Center for Mental Healthcare Outcomes and Research, Central Arkansas Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR, USA. BoothBrendaM@uams.edu
Teri D Davis
Ann M Cheney
Michelle A Mengeling
James C Torner
Anne G Sadler
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Psychosomatic medicine, Vol.74(9), pp.916-924
DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31827078e2
PMID: 23071345
NLM abbreviation: Psychosom Med
ISSN: 1534-7796
eISSN: 1534-7796
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 11/2012
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983996194902771

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30 Times Cited - Web of Science

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