• J Affect Disord · Jan 2020

    Higher depression severity mediates the association of assault military sexual trauma and sexual function in partnered female service members/veterans.

    • Rebecca K Blais, Whitney S Livingston, and Jamison D Fargo.
    • Utah State University, USA. Electronic address: rebecca.blais@usu.edu.
    • J Affect Disord. 2020 Jan 15; 261: 238-244.

    BackgroundMilitary sexual trauma (MST), and assault as opposed to harassment-only MST in particular, is associated with lower sexual function among female service members/veterans (SM/Vs). Recent research revealed that higher posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters of anhedonia and dysphoric arousal mediated the association of assault MST and sexual function. Such clusters represent the depressive symptoms of PTSD, and theories of sexual function suggest that depression worsens sexual function. The impact of depression on the association of MST and sexual function has yet to be tested.MethodUsing path analysis, the study examined whether depression severity mediated the association of MST and sexual function after accounting for demographics and mediators of PTSD-related anhedonia and dysphoric arousal. Female SM/Vs (N = 697) completed measures of MST (history, severity), depression, PTSD-related anhedonia and dysphoric arousal, sexual function, and a demographic inventory.ResultsOne hundred twenty-two (17.50%) indicated that they did not experience MST, 336 (48.21%) reported that they experienced harassment-only MST, and 239 (34.29%) reported assault MST. Fit indices evidenced strong model fit, χ2(12, N = 697)=18.85, p=.09, CFI=1.00, TLI=0.99, SRMR=0.02, and RMSEA=0.03. The indirect effect of depression severity was significant (p<.001).LimitationsUse of cross-sectional data in a convenience sample of female SM/Vs.ConclusionsEven after accounting for established covariates and mediators of assault MST and sexual function, depression accounted for a significant amount of variance in this association. Treatment of poor sexual function must address depressive symptoms. As medications for depression can exacerbate sexual issues, psychotherapy may be the most effective treatment strategy.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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