Barriers to PTSD treatment-seeking by women veterans who experienced military sexual trauma decades ago: The role of institutional betrayal.
Nurs Outlook 2021;
69:458-470. [PMID:
33863545 DOI:
10.1016/j.outlook.2021.02.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
While some barriers to PTSD treatment engagement among veterans are well-identified, e.g., stigma, little is known about the barriers to VA PTSD treatment-seeking among women veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST) decades ago.
PURPOSE
To explore the barriers to PTSD treatment-seeking of women veterans with PTSD related to MST experienced prior to 2000.
METHOD
Data were collected from women veterans (n = 14) who had experienced MST and sought VA PTSD treatment. Data analyses utilized a constructivist grounded theory approach.
FINDINGS
The context of the MST experience, including the military environment at the time, the era in which they experienced MST and the response of others to their reporting or disclosure of MST created decades-long barriers to PTSD treatment-seeking.
DISCUSSION
Understanding institutional betrayal as a barrier to PTSD treatment-seeking among women veterans who experienced MST decades ago is necessary to develop effective targeted outreach and programs for this population.
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