Date of Conferral

5-25-2024

Date of Award

5-25-2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Barbara Benoliel

Abstract

Researchers have found that male survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) may not report their assaults due to a combination of stigma, embarrassment, and fear of further assault and of being labeled a betrayer of the military. The stigma and discrimination that these gay males may face in the military culture may lead to intensifying their trauma, making it harder to recover. The goal of this study was to explore the reported psychological and emotional well-being and quality of life of gay males who experienced sexual assault while serving in the military. Freyd’s theory of betrayal trauma and institutional betrayal supplied the theoretical framework. A qualitative content analysis approach was employed to examine narrative data collected from semistructured interviews with six helping professionals who provide services to gay male MST survivors. The themes identified from findings in this study uncovered that (a) gay men who experienced MST were a marginalized group susceptible to severe psychological and emotional difficulties that negatively impacted their quality of life, (b) sexual assault experiences changed their views of the world and also altered their perception of the military culture as a whole, and (c) the fear of being stigmatized as a gay man in the military environment, along with feelings of betrayal by the institution that they gave an oath to serve with pride, played a significant role in the low efforts to report MST by gay males. This study contributes to positive social change by further illuminating the challenges gay males face after MST while in the military, encouraging a discussion surrounding male MST, the trauma-related symptoms, and the male-dominated ideology of military culture that discourages individuals from speaking out against violence.

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