Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Health Treatment‐Seeking in U.S. Active Duty Soldiers With Sexual Assault Histories

E-ISSN： 1573-6598|28|4|289-297

ISSN： 0894-9867

Source： JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Vol.28, Iss.4, 2015-08, pp. : 289-297

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Abstract

Despite significant mental health needs among sexual assault (SA) victims in the military, little is known about treatment‐seeking patterns or factors associated with service use. This study examined service use behavior, barriers, and facilitators of mental health treatment‐seeking in an active duty sample of 927 U.S. Army soldiers with mental health problems. SA victims (n = 113) did not differ from non‐victims on barriers or facilitators after adjusting for demographic and mental health variables, with stigma rated as the largest barrier. Most SA victims (87.6%) had sought informal support and 59.3% had sought formal treatment. One third of treatment‐seekers had dropped out of treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified several correlates of treatment‐seeking among SA victims: Black race (OR = 7.57), SA during the military (OR = 4.34), positive treatment beliefs (OR = 2.22), social support for treatment (OR = 2.14), self‐reliance (OR = 0.47), and stigma towards treatment seekers (OR = 0.43). Mental health symptoms were not associated with treatment seeking. Findings suggested that treatment‐facilitating interventions should focus on improving recognition of mental health symptoms, altering perceptions related to self‐reliance, and reducing stigma. Interventions should also enlist support for treatment‐seeking from unit members, leaders, and significant others.