Men

Citation:

Sivakumaran, Sandesh. 2007. "Sexual Violence Against Men in Armed Conflict." European Journal of International Law 18 (2): 253-76.

Author: Sandesh Sivakumaran

Abstract:

Reports of sexual violence by men against men emerge from numerous conflicts, ranging in time from Ancient Persia and the Crusades to the conflicts in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite these accounts, relatively little material exists on the subject and the issue tends to be relegated to a footnote. This article ascertains the extent to which male sexual violence is committed in armed conflict. It considers factors that explain under-reporting by victims and lack of detection on the part of others. The particular forms of male sexual violence are also examined: namely rape, enforced sterilization and other forms of sexual violence, including enforced nudity, enforced masturbation and genital violence. The dynamics present in these offences are explored, with issues of power and dominance, expressed through emasculation, considered. Thus, attention is paid to ideas of feminization, homosexualization and the prevention of procreation. The symbolic construction of male and female bodies in armed conflict is also explored.

Keywords: conflict, military sexual assault, war rape

Topics: Gender, Men, Masculinity/ies, Health, Reproductive Health, Sexual Violence, Male Perpetrators, Rape, SV against Men, Sexuality Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Year: 2007

Citation:

Gill, Lesley. 1997. "Creating Citizens, Making Men: The Military and Masculinity in Bolivia." Cultural Anthropology 12 (4): 527-50.

Author: Lesley Gill

Keywords: militarization, masculinity, male soldiers

Topics: Citizenship, Gender, Men, Masculinity/ies, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries, Militarization Regions: Americas, South America Countries: Bolivia

Year: 1997

Citation:

Zatzick, Douglas F., Charles R. Marmar, Daniel S. Weiss, Warren S. Browner, Thomas J. Metzler, Jacqueline M. Golding, Anita Stewart, William E. Schlenger, and Kenneth B. Wells. 1997. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Functioning and Quality of Life Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Sample of Male Vietnam Veterans." American Journal of Psychiatry 154 (12): 1690-1695.

Authors: Douglas F. Zatzick, Charles R. Marmar, Daniel S. Weiss, Warren S. Browner, Thomas J. Metzler, Jacqueline M. Golding, Anita Stewart, William E. Schlenger, Kenneth B. Wells

Abstract:

Objective: Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent and often chronic condition, the relationship between PTSD and functioning and quality of life remains incompletely understood. 

Method: The authors undertook an archival analysis of data from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. The study subjects consisted of the nationally representative sample of male Vietnam veterans who participated in the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. The authors estimated PTSD at the time of the interview with the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. They examined the following outcomes: diminished well-being, physical limitations, bed day in the past 2 weeks, compromised physical health status, currently not working, and perpetration of violence. Logistic models were used to determine the association between PTSD and outcome; adjustment was made for demographic characteristics and comorbid psychiatric and other medical conditions.

Results: The risks of poorer outcome were significantly higher in subjects with PTSD than in subjects without PTSD in five of the six domains. For the outcome domains of physical limitations, not working, compromised physical health, and diminished wellbeing, these significantly higher risks persisted even in the most conservative logistic models that removed the shared effects of comorbid psychiatric and other medical disorders. 

Conclusions: The suffering associated with combat related-PTSD extends beyond the signs and symptoms of the disorder to broader areas of functional and social morbidity. The significantly higher risk of impaired functioning and diminished quality of life uniquely attributable to PTSD suggests that PTSD may well be the core problem in this group of difficult to treat and multiply afflicted patients.

Keywords: male veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health

Topics: Combatants, Male Combatants, Gender, Men, Health, Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 1997

Citation:

Woodhead, C., S. Wessely, N. Jones, T. Fear, and S. L. Hatch. 2012. "Impact of Exposure to Combat during Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on Mental Health by Gender." Psychological Medicine 42 (9): 1-12.

Authors: C. Woodhead, S. Wessely, N. Jones, T. Fear, S. L. Hatch

Abstract:

Keywords: mental health, female soldiers, male soldiers, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse

Topics: Armed Conflict, Combatants, Female Combatants, Male Combatants, Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries Regions: Europe, Western Europe Countries: United Kingdom

Year: 2012

Citation:

Vogt, Dawne, Rachel Vaughn, Mark E. Glickman, Mark Schultz, Mari-Lynn Drainoni, Rani Elwy, and Susan Eisen. 2011. "Gender Differences in Combat-related Stressors and Their Association with Postdeployment Mental Health in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. OEF/OIF Veterans." Journal of Abnormal Psychology 120 (4): 797-806.

Authors: Dawne Vogt, Rachel Vaughn, Mark E. Glickman, Mark Schultz, Mari-Lynn Drainoni, Rani Elwy, Susan Eisen

Abstract:

Though the broader literature suggests that women may be more vulnerable to the effects of trauma exposure, most available studies on combat trauma have relied on samples in which women's combat exposure is limited and analyses that do not directly address gender differences in associations between combat exposure and postdeployment mental health. Female service members' increased exposure to combat in Afghanistan and Iraq provides a unique opportunity to evaluate gender differences in different dimensions of combat-related stress and associated consequence for postdeployment mental health. The current study addressed these research questions in a representative sample of female and male U.S. veterans who had returned from deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq within the previous year. As expected, women reported slightly less exposure than men to most combat-related stressors, but higher exposure to other stressors (i.e., prior life stress, deployment sexual harassment). No gender differences were observed in reports of perceived threat in the war zone. Though it was hypothesized that combat-related stressors would demonstrate stronger negative associations with postdeployment mental health for women, only one of 16 stressor x gender interactions achieved statistical significance and an evaluation of the clinical significance of these interactions revealed that effects were trivial. Results suggest that female Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom service members may be as resilient to combat-related stress as men. Future research is needed to evaluate gender differences in the longer-term effects of combat exposure.

Keywords: female veterans, male veterans, trauma, mental health

Topics: Armed Conflict, Combatants, Female Combatants, Male Combatants, Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 2011

Citation:

Tiet, Quyen Q., John W. Finney, and Rudolf H. Moos. 2006. "Recent Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, and Suicide Attempts among Male Veterans Seeking Psychiatric Treatment."  Psychiatric Services 57 (1): 107-113.

Authors: Quyen Q. Tiet, John W. Finney, Rudolf H. Moos

Abstract:

Objectives: This study examined the rates of sexual and physical abuse and suicide attempts among male and female patients and focused on the associations between sexual and physical abuse and recent suicide attempts among men.

Methods: Data were examined for a cohort of patients aged 19 years and older who were seeking treatment for substance use disorders, other psychiatric disorders, or both from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) between July 1997 and September 1997. Almost all the patients in the sample (more than 99 percent) had a substance use disorder. Patients were interviewed with the Addiction Severity Index about lifetime and recent (past 30 days) sexual and physical abuse and recent suicide attempts. Because of the low prevalence of suicide attempts in the past 30 days and limited representation of female patients in this sample, the data for female patients were used only to conduct descriptive analyses to compare the prevalence of sexual and physical abuse and suicide attempts between genders.

Results: The sample comprised 34,245 patients (33,236 males and 1,009 females). Compared with male patients, female patients were ten times as likely to have been sexually abused in the past 30 days and four times as likely to have been physically abused. Among male patients, bivariate analyses showed that those who had been recently sexually or physically abused were more likely than those who had not experienced such abuse to have attempted suicide recently (odds ratios of 4.8 and 3.0, respectively). After controlling for demographic and diagnostic factors, multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that recent sexual abuse, recent physical abuse, and lifetime sexual abuse were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of a recent suicide attempt among male patients.

Conclusions: Female patients were more likely than their male counterparts to experience sexual and physical abuse. Recent and lifetime history of sexual abuse and recent physical abuse were independent risk factors for recent suicide attempts among men who were seeking treatment. The results suggest that clinicians who identify suicide attempts and suicidal tendencies among male patients should routinely assess for sexual or physical abuse.

Keywords: suicide, male veterans, female veterans, mental health, substance abuse, sexual abuse

Topics: Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Sexual Violence Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 2006

Citation:

Stretch, Robert H., Kathryn H. Knudson, and Doris Durand. 1998. "Effects of Premilitary and Military Trauma on the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Female and Male Active Duty Soldiers." Military Medicine 163 (7): 466-470.

Authors: Robert H. Stretch, Kathryn H. Knudson, Doris Durand

Abstract:

Surveyed 573 female and 555 male active duty US Army soldiers (average age 25.9 yrs) to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, whether there were gender differences, and the relation between prevalence of exposure to different types of traumatic events (death/injury, sexual, nonsexual, personal injury) and symptoms. Questionnaire results indicated significant gender differences in types of traumatic events experienced, with females reporting more sexual traumas and males reporting more nonsexual traumas. Males reported experi- encing more military-related traumas, whereas females reported more premilitary traumas. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 8.6% for females and 5% for males. Females reported greater psychological distress in response to trauma than males. 

Keywords: female soldiers, male soldiers, trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health

Topics: Combatants, Female Combatants, Male Combatants, Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries, Sexual Violence, SV against Men, SV against Women Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 1998

Citation:

Solomon, Zahava, Marc Gelkopf, and Avraham Bleich. 2005. "Is Terror Gender-Blind? Gender Differences in Reaction to Terror Events." Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 40 (12): 947-954.

Authors: Zahava Solomon, Marc Gelkopf, Avraham Bleich

Abstract:

Objective: This study examines gender differences in posttraumatic vulnerability in the face of the terror attacks that occurred during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. In addition, the contribution of level of exposure, sense of safety, self-efficacy, and coping strategies is assessed.

Method: Participants were 250 men and 262 women, who constitute a representative sample of Israel's adult population. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire consisting of 51 items that were drawn from several questionnaires widely used in the study of trauma.

Results: The findings indicate that women endorsed posttraumatic and depressive symptoms more than men and that, generally, their odds of developing posttraumatic stress symptoms are six times higher than those of men. Results also revealed that women's sense of safety and self-efficacy are lower than men's and that there are gender differences in coping strategies in the face of terror.

Conclusions: Gender differences in vulnerability to terror may be attributable to a number of factors, among these are women's higher sense of threat and lower self-efficacy, as well as their tendency to use less effective coping strategies than men. Level of exposure to terror was ruled out as a possible explanation for the gender differences in vulnerability.

Keywords: terrorism, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health, depression

Topics: Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Terrorism Regions: Africa, MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Israel

Year: 2005

Citation:

Schnurr, Paula P., Matthew J. Friedman, Anjana Sengupta, M. K. Jankowski, and Tamara Holmes. 2000. "PTSD and Utilization of Medical Treatment Services among Male Vietnam Veterans." The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 188 (8): 496-504.

Authors: Paula P. Schnurr, Matthew J. Friedman, Anjana Sengupta, M. K. Jankowski, Tamara Holmes

Abstract:

This study investigated the effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on help-seeking for physical problems. Merging two large data sets resulted in a sample of 1773 male Vietnam veterans from white, black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Japanese American ethnic groups. Predictors of utilization included PTSD, other axis I disorders, and substance abuse. In analyses that adjusted only for age, PTSD was related to greater utilization of recent and lifetime VA medical services, and with recent inpatient care from all sources. Further analysis showed that the increased utilization associated with PTSD was not merely due to the high comorbidity between PTSD and other axis I disorders. The uniqueness of the association between PTSD and medical utilization is discussed in terms of somatization and physical illness. 

Keywords: male veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health

Topics: Combatants, Male Combatants, Ethnicity, Gender, Men, Health, Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma, Military Forces & Armed Groups Regions: Americas, North America, Asia, Southeast Asia Countries: United States of America, Vietnam

Year: 2000

Citation:

Rosen, Leora N., Kathleen Wright, David Marlowe, Paul Bartone, and Robert K. Gifford. 1999. "Gender Differences in Subjective Distress Attributable to Anticipation of Combat among U.S. Army Soldiers Deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm." Military Medicine 164 (11): 753-757.

Authors: Leora N. Rosen, Kathleen Wright, David Marlowe, Paul Bartone, Robert K. Gifford

Abstract:

Compared the perceptions of stress, cohesion, and psychological well-being among army soldiers deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. 856 male and 169 female soldiers (mean age 26.3–28.9 yrs) across 48 combat support and combat service support companies were administered surveys on-site concerning anticipation of combat, operational stress, personal stress, and bonding with peers, leaders, and subordinates. Administered tests included the Brief Symptom Inventory (L. R. Derogatis and N. Melisaratos, 1983) and the Measure of Personality Hardiness (S. C. Kobasa, 1979). Results show that females scored higher than males on all 3 stress measures and scored lower in bonding with leaders and subordinates. Anticipation of combat was the most significant discriminator between sexes, and was a significant predictor of increased psychological symptoms for both sexes. Hardiness scores were similar for both sexes, but anticipation of combat had a greater effect on the psychological symptoms of females compared with males.

Keywords: female soldiers, mental health

Topics: Armed Conflict, Combatants, Female Combatants, Male Combatants, Gender, Women, Men, Health, Mental Health, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 1999