Defeated No More: Meaning-Making After Military Sexual Trauma

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Military Health

Background:

• Military sexual trauma (MST) is a persistent issue in the U.S. military.
• Existing interventions for MST survivors are numerous, yet meaning-based approaches remain under-explored.
• This study addresses the gap by investigating the meaning-making process in female veterans who experienced MST.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the meaning-making process experienced by female military veterans who have endured MST.
• To identify key themes emerging from their narratives of navigating life after MST.
• To understand how these experiences contribute to post-traumatic growth (PTG).

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted with six female veterans nationwide.
• Participants shared experiences of sexual harassment and assault during military service.
• Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using axial coding to identify major themes.

Main Results:

• The interview process was often experienced as healing, fostering post-traumatic growth (PTG).
• Eight major themes emerged across three domains: creating work/deeds, encountering experiences for PTG, and altering attitudes toward suffering.
• Key themes included advocacy, adaptive coping, sense of family, psychological clarity, meaningful mantra, survivor mentality, self-perception, and resilience.

Conclusions:

• Participants engaged in activities aligned with the identified domains, highlighting their capacity for PTG through meaning-making.
• Findings suggest that meaning-making techniques can inform future treatment planning for MST survivors.
• Recommendations include developing family and group meaning-based interventions and exploring further practice implications.