Allostatic Perspectives in Women Veterans With a History of Childhood Sexual Assault

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorGroer, Maureen Wimberly ; Kostas-Polston, Elizabeth A. ; Dillahunt-Aspillaga, Christina ; Ceckie, Theresa M. ; Johnson-Mallard, Versie ; Duffy, Allyson ; Evans, Mary E,
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-03T19:18:10Z
dc.date.available2018-05-03T19:18:10Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractBackground: Women veterans have increased reports of sexual victimization compared to women in general, including childhood sexual assault (CSA) before military service, increasing the risk of military sexual trauma. Findings from recent studies reveal negative health effects following a history of CSA. There is a strong relationship between CSA and revictimization in civilian and military life, which may contribute to allostatic load. Objectives: (1) To determine the relationship between women veterans’ CSA history and later sexual assault history and (2) to determine the relationships between women veterans’ CSA and primary mediators and secondary and tertiary outcomes of allostasis. Research design: Cross-sectional. Subjects: Women (N = 81), 18–70 years old, veterans of the U.S. Armed Services. Measures: Participants completed questionnaires and blood and hair samples were collected. Several scales were utilized: Posttraumatic Checklist–Military, Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale, Pain Outcomes Questionnaire–Short Form, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States, and an investigator-developed sexual harassment/assault instrument. Results: Thirty-three percent of participants reported CSA; of these, 38.5% reported military sexual assault and 70.3% sexual assault during civilian life. Those with CSA had higher cholesterol, triglycerides, perceived stress scores, and greater pain and fatigue than those without CSA. Hair cortisol was marginally lower in women with CSA when PSS was controlled, suggesting a dampened hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Conclusions: These data suggest that some women veterans with a history of CSA may have increased allostatic load and be at increased risk for a variety of later life illnesses. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationGroer, Maureen Wimberly ; Kostas-Polston, Elizabeth A. ; Dillahunt-Aspillaga, Christina ; Ceckie, Theresa M. ; Johnson-Mallard, Versie ; Duffy, Allyson ; Evans, Mary E, (2016). Allostatic Perspectives in Women Veterans With a History of Childhood Sexual Assault. Biological Research for Nursing, 18(4), 454-464.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1099800416638442
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/3819
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherBiological Research for Nursingen_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectsexual abuseen_US
dc.subjectlong term effectsen_US
dc.subjectpsychological effectsen_US
dc.subjectphysiological effectsen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.titleAllostatic Perspectives in Women Veterans With a History of Childhood Sexual Assaulten_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Collections

CALiO Collection of Resources