Life course perspective on the role of military sexual trauma as a pathway to homelessness for female Veterans

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY The human dimension of war can be traumatizing. For women serving as active-duty service members, the atrocities of war can be exacerbated by sexual harassment and abuse, known as military sexual trauma (MST). The limited research on MST among U.S. Veterans suggests that as many as 1 in 3 Veterans experiencing homelessness were exposed to MST. MST can have long-lasting consequences, including alcohol and drug problems, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, chronic health problems, and unstable housing and homelessness. This qualitative exploratory study used a life course perspective to examine how MST and other experiences influenced female Veterans’ pathways into homelessness.