Perceptions of Help-Seeking Experiences Among Female Veteran Survivors of Military Sexual Assault

AbstractThe numerous obstacles that female military sexual assault (MSA) survivors face after discharge from military service are well documented in research. However, there is a need for qualitative studies regarding perceptions of female veterans’ help-seeking experiences in disclosing MSA to understand how to encourage them to seek help and provide it for them when they do seek help. Based on this scarcity of knowledge, this study aimed to provide a voice to this population as well as provide results that can be used to aid this population. A social constructionist perspective, which postulates that knowledge and experience are constructed by an individual’s social, cultural, and economic life, was the conceptual framework used to examine the survivors’ help-seeking perceptions. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews of fourteen female veteran MSA survivors who recounted impressions of their lived experiences with the help-seeking phenomenon. Thematic analysis was used to explore and describe the experiences of post-service female MSA survivors by uncovering the shared themes and meanings between all participants. Participants had mixed experiences with their providers during the disclosure process. Some participants had positive experiences with all providers they visited, making them feel comfortable and satisfied with the process. Others reported feeling that their MSA was not taken seriously or that their experiences were not a big deal. This research offers a more comprehensive understanding of help-seeking among MSA survivors to raise practitioner and stakeholder awareness that could lead to advancements in the provision treatment and services for MSA survivors, paving the way for positive social change