Sexual assault in military tied to veterans’ homelessness

By Patricia Kime

New research finds that troops who are sexually assaulted are at higher risk for homelessness, with males in greater jeopardy than females.

A study published online Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, mirrors earlier research on the association between military sexual assault and suicide: A study published last year indicated that suicidal thoughts and behavior are more prevalent in males who were sexually assaulted while on active duty than females.

In the recent study conducted by VA Salt Lake City Health Care System and the University of Utah School of Medicine researchers, homeless rates among veterans who reported being sexually assaulted while serving increased from 1.6 percent within 30 days of returning from a deployment to 9.6 percent less than five years later.

The rates are nearly double that of veterans who said they weren’t sexually assaulted, 0.7 percent within 30 days of returning home, 1.8 percent within one year and 4.3 percent within five years.

Between men and women, homelessness was more pronounced among male sexual assault victims than females, 11.8 percent versus 8.9 percent at the five-year mark.

The authors noted the findings are significant because they could lead to early interventions for homelessness among veterans.

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