A silent epidemic: Exploring the needs of sexual assault survivors who served in the United States Army
Abstract:This qualitative study explores the experiences of U.S Army sexual assault survivors and how they describe what they need emotionally, physically, and psychologically after their assault, and how Human-Centered Design (HCD) can be used as a guiding framework to analyze efficient post-care needs of a sexual assault survivor and cultivate preventive measures that promote a decline in sexual assault within the military. Despite the evolvement of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training program designed to educate service members and provide supportive treatment to impacted individuals and the recently reformed measured recommended by the Independent Review Commission enforcing a significant changes on sexual assault in the military, service members continue to face systematic barriers including discriminatory behavior based on rank or gender, male-dominate cultural norms, leadership accountability, limited recovery measures post assault, and facing retaliation that significantly impacts the individuals well-being. This research study uses a qualitative semi-structured interview design method with eight U.S. Army Veterans who served active duty or on active duty orders at the time of their sexual assault. Using HCD as the theoretical framework guides the research to understand the narratives of eight individuals who navigated through the reporting process and utilization of resources until they were honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. In depth- the research investigates how sexual assault reporting measures are used by each participant that captures disparities in access to reporting, leadership influences, and the negative impacts of their experiences that influence the outcome of their recovery to include their perspectives of how a survivor-centered approach can be implemented to develop a reporting and preventive process that places the survivors at the focal point or recovery methods.