Date of Conferral

9-5-2025

Degree

Doctor of Human Services (D.H.S.)

School

Human Services

Advisor

Antoinette Pigatt

Abstract

The United States Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides care for female veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST), which is harassment and physical assault that occurs while on active military duty. This generic qualitative study involved understanding coping skills of cisgender African American female veterans who experienced MST and the impact of race on their coping skills. A significant gap exists in literature regarding how African American female veterans have coped with MST. This study involved using the transactional theory of stress and coping, which asserts coping responses reflect an imbalance between demands of a person’s environment and what resources are available to respond to those demands. The study included interviews with 15 African American female veterans who met criteria and completed a five-question open-ended questionnaire. Findings suggested coping skills of African American female veterans play an integral role in their ongoing treatment and influence future treatment plans of VHA practitioners as well as those working outside of the VHA. Additionally, study findings can potentially influence policy development for female soldiers facing MST, thereby increasing support for female soldiers during active duty.

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