Survivors of military sexual assault (MSA), which has been shown to be positively linked with negative posttraumatic cognitions (NPTCs), may be at an increased risk of engaging in sexual risk behaviors. However, the relation between sexual risk-taking and NPTCs among MSA survivors is understudied. In the present study, it was hypothesized that (1) there would be a significant positive association between sexual risk-taking and NPTCs among MSA survivors, and (2) sex would significantly moderate this association, such that the relation between NPTCs and sexual risk-taking would be stronger among male MSA survivors compared to female survivors. Secondary data came from the Military Social Science Laboratory (MiSSiLe) at Arizona State University (ASU). Participants (N = 400) completed surveys in Qualtrics, Inc. assessing military history, MSA exposure, sexual risk-taking, and NPTCs. Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression with moderation were used to test the above hypotheses, covarying for age, marital status, military branch, and history of PTSD treatment. Results showed a significant positive association between sexual risk-taking and NPTCs among MSA survivors (p < .001); however, the interaction between sex and NPTCs only approached significance, such that the association was slightly stronger for male MSA survivors compared to female survivors (p = .055). These results suggest that the interplay between sexual risk-taking and NPTCs could be an important target for improving healthcare for MSA survivors. Furthermore, future research may consider utilizing study samples that more accurately reflect the distribution of service members across all military branches and the sex distribution of service members and veterans. Doing so would improve generalizability and better inform treatment.

Active U.S. service members and veterans engage in heightened and hazardous alcohol consumption, which has negative implications when it comes to fulfilling their military duties. It is common for service members and veterans to suffer from both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous alcohol use concurrently, and it is unclear how other challenges could strengthen or weaken this relation. The current study examined the extent to which posttraumatic cognitions (PTCs)–conceptualized as thinking negatively about the world, self, and self-blame–moderated the relation between PTSD and alcohol use in service members with a history of military sexual assault (MSA). An additional exploratory analysis was conducted to see if there was a possible mediating role PTCs play in the relation between PTSD and alcohol use. The current study utilized data from a parent study that administered self-report surveys to 400 U.S. service members and veterans (50%) with a history of MSA. At the bivariate level, PTSD and PTCs were significantly associated with higher alcohol use. PTCs did not moderate the association between PTSD severity and alcohol use severity. An exploratory analysis of PTCs as a mediator of the relation between PTSD and alcohol use found a significant indirect effect of PTSD severity on alcohol use severity through higher PTCs. PTCs could be a target for cognitive-behavioral therapy treatments among those who are experiencing heavy alcohol use. Keywords: alcohol use, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic cognitions, military sexual assault, military

Military sexual trauma (MST) is a risk factor for suicide among service members/veterans. Research reported that 41.79% of male and 63.58% female MST survivors were exposed to pre-military sexual trauma, making MST a revictimization experience. Unfortunately, little is known about mechanisms of the association between revictimization and suicide risk among MST survivors. One possible mechanism is posttraumatic cognitions (PTCs), which include the survivor’s (1) negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves, (2) negative thoughts and beliefs about the world, and (3) self-blame. The current study examined each of the PTC subscales as mediators of the association between sexual revictimization and suicide risk. Participants were 383 service members/veterans reporting a history of MST that involved assault (50.65% female), recruited via Qualtrics., Inc. in 2021. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing demographics, suicide risk, history of sexual victimization (MST only, MST and pre-military sexual victimization), and PTCs. Of these, 340 (88.8%) reported a history of MST and pre-military victimization and comprised the revictimization group. Parallel mediation analysis with suicide risk regressed on each of the PTCs subscales and covariates accounted for 43.48% of the variance, and revealed that negative cognitions about the self had a significant indirect effect on the association between revictimization and higher suicide risk, above and beyond negative cognitions about world and self-blame. Targeting negative cognitions about the self among sexual revictimization survivors may be an effective therapeutic strategy to most effectively reduce suicide risk. Cognitive Processing Therapy may be particularly useful among revictimization survivors given the focus on altering posttraumatic cognitions.

Depression is associated with job fatigue, social isolation, and suicide risk in US service members and veterans (SM/Vs). Risk for depression is particularly heightened among male SM/Vs relative to civilians, impacting 23% and 6%, respectively. Research suggests social support may protect SM/Vs from depressive symptoms, but most studies focus on positive social support (PSS). Negative social support (NSS) could be more impactful on depressive symptoms than positive support; however, this has not been examined in military samples. Given heightened risk for depression in SM/Vs, it is critical to better understand these associations. The present study addressed this literature gap in a convenience sample (N=508) of male SM/Vs. Participants completed measures of depression, PSS, NSS, and a demographic questionnaire. A correlation comparison calculation was used to compare the strength of bivariate associations of PSS and NSS with depression. Linear regression was employed to test the simultaneous effects of PSS and NSS as correlates of depression after accounting for age, race, and marital status. The association of NSS and depression was statistically stronger than the association of PSS and depression (t[301]=-11.55, p<0.05). Linear regression revealed that higher NSS (partial r=.40, p<.001) was positively associated with depression and high PSS (partial r=-.32, p<.001) was negatively associated with depression with medium-to-large effect sizes after accounting for covariates. Decreasing the frequency of negative social support may reduce depression in men SM/Vs. Findings also suggest the utility of focusing studies on both dimensions of social support in place of focusing on positive elements of social support.