Sexual trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and health behavior

The authors tested whether sexual traumatization is associated with poorer health behavior and also evaluated the role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this relationship. They mailed questionnaires to 419 women who had visited a San Diego Veterans Administration primary care clinic in 1998 and received 221 responses, a 56% return rate. They found that a history of sexual assault was associated with increased substance use, risky sexual behaviors, less vigorous exercise, and increased preventive healthcare. They then used regression-based techniques to test whether PTSD mediates the relationship between a history of sexual assault and health behaviors and discovered support for this hypothesis in relation to substance use. PTSD symptoms were also associated with less likelihood of conducting regular breast self-examinations. Findings from the study highlight the value of programs designed to (1) identify trauma victims, (2) screen for problematic behaviors, and (3) intervene to improve long-term health outcomes.