Does posttraumatic stress disorder mediate between military sexual trauma and health problems in female veterans?

摘要

Military sexual trauma (MST) is a major problem in the United States military that leads to numerous health problems. Posttraumatic stress disorder has been found to mediate between civilian sexual trauma and health problems. However, research on female veterans about whether PTSD mediates between MST and poor health is inconclusive. The current study reexamined the mediational role of PTSD between MST and health problems in a female veteran population. A sample of 196 female veterans was selected from a Veterans Affairs health care center. Regression analysis revealed that PTSD significantly mediated between MST and health problems. A post hoc examination found that depression also mediated the relationship between PTSD and health problems. Therefore PTSD acts indirectly through depression to affect health. The results suggest the importance of treating depression in female veterans with sexual trauma to reduce future health problems.