Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor in Psychology (Psy. D.)

Abstract

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to a psychological trauma that resulted from any sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment that a military member experienced during his or her military service. Military sexual trauma is a significant problem within the United States military that threatens the strength, readiness, and morale of the military, and has devastating personal effects on survivors and their families. During 2006, the military began taking steps to understand the prevalence of MST and implement programs to help prevent it. Despite some of the progress these programs have shown, there are still barriers that impede an MST survivor’s reporting and treatment seeking behaviors. This literature review examines the prevalence of MST and the impact it has on survivors, explores barriers service members face reporting and seeking treatment and reviews treatments for MST. This literature review also examines the history of proposed and implemented legal protection acts pertinent to MST and discusses their benefits and limitations. Finally, recommendations from the literature are discussed pertaining to future research and clinical practice.

Faculty Mentor

Theresa Botts, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Michael McClellan, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Dustin Wygant, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

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