Investigating the prevalence and impact of Military SexualTrauma (MST) on UK women service personnel:implications for mental health, help-seeking and

在英国，关于女性服役人员和退伍军人(已服过兵役的人)在军人性创伤(MST)(发生在兵役期间的性骚扰和/或性侵)、或发生在军队以外的性骚扰和性侵以及由此对其心理健康造成的影响方面的经历，人们知之甚少。虽然性侵和性骚扰可能会发生在男性和女性身上，但美国军方的研究发现，女性报告性侵和性骚扰的比例要高得多，在寻求帮助和支持方面遇到了巨大的障碍，并因此产生了长期的心理健康问题，如创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)。在英国，2021年的一份题为《我们也服务过》的研究综述将MST列为研究的重中之重。此外，英国国防特别委员会最近在2021年进行了一项调查，任务是调查女性的服役经历，发现了许多针对女性的“不可接受的行为”，从男性玩笑文化到性骚扰和强奸。该项目使用英国一项队列研究的数据和招募人员，该研究评估了自2003年以来部署到伊拉克和阿富汗的英国武装部队的健康和福祉，该项目将使用调查和访谈来评估报告性骚扰和/或性侵犯的英国女性服务人员和退伍军人的水平和经历。这项研究将调查这些事件是否在服兵役期间发生，对他们的心理健康有什么影响，以及哪些风险因素与心理健康不良有关。这项研究还将与经历过和没有经历过性骚扰/性侵的女性讨论她们对军事文化和工作环境的看法和经历，以及她们在服役中与“不可接受的行为”有关的看法和经历，比如性骚扰/性侵的笑话或知识。这项研究将进一步调查寻求帮助的任何障碍，并将与妇女、军事和NHS治疗和支持服务提供者合作，改进服务的设计，使其适合妇女的需求。该项目将向以前未得到充分服务的妇女群体提供声音和理解，将其调查结果与实际政策和服务设计的改进联系起来，并提供可用于妇女占少数的其他职业领域的证据，从而将影响扩大到该项目之外。

Very little is known in the UK about the experiences ofwomen service personnel and veterans (those who haveleft military service) with regards to military sexual trauma(MST) (sexual harassment and/or assault that occurs inmilitary service), or sexual harassment and assault thathappens outside of the military, and the resulting impact ontheir mental health. Whilst sexual assault and harassmentcan happen to both men and women, US military researchhas found that women report this at far higher levels,experience significant barriers to seeking help and support,and have resulting long-term mental health problems suchas posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the UK, aresearch review in 2021 titled, 'We Also Served', identifiedMST as a top priority for research. Additionally, a recentparliamentary Defence Select Committee investigation in2021 tasked with examining women's experiences ofservice identified many instances of 'unacceptablebehaviours' targeted at women that ranged from a cultureof masculine banter to sexual harassment and rape.Using data and recruitment from a UK cohort study that hasassessed the health and wellbeing of UK Armed Forces whodeployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, this projectwill use both surveys and interviews to assess the levelsand experiences of UK women service personnel andveterans that report sexual harassment and/or sexualassault. The study will examine whether these eventshappened during their military service, what the impact ison their mental health and what the risk factors are inrelation to poor mental health. The study will also discusswith women who have and have not experienced sexualharassment/assault about their perceptions andexperiences of military culture and their work environmentin-service in relation to 'unacceptable behaviours' such assexualised banter or knowledge of sexualharassment/assault. The study will further investigate anybarriers to help-seeking and will work with women, themilitary and NHS providers of treatment and supportservices to improve the design of services so they aretailored to women's needs. This project will give voice andunderstanding to a previously underserved group ofwomen, connect its findings to influence improvements inpractical policy and service design, and offer evidence thatcan be utilised in other occupational fields where womenare a minority, therefore extending impact beyond thisproject.