Group therapy for men with histories of military sexual trauma: Treatment feasibility, acceptability, and symptom outcomes.
Men who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) are at heightened risk for a broad range of health and psychosocial sequelae yet often struggle to sustain participation in mental health care. The aim of this project was to examine whether men would tolerate and potentially benefit from a trauma-focused, discussion-based group treatment related to MST.
This nonrandomized project is a mixed method analysis of clinical data collected among patients who completed treatment (n = 72) over a 6-year period (2019-2025) and reports on intervention feasibility and acceptability, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, recovery, and belongingness and shame.
This study provides preliminary evidence for feasibility, acceptability, and clinical benefit. Contrary to prediction, there were no significant pre- to posttreatment quantitative changes in shame or belongingness, although qualitative data suggested a different pattern of participant experience.
These findings suggest that a trauma-focused, discussion-centered group therapy approach may be relevant for men with histories of MST, a population with unique clinical distress and treatment underutilization. This alternative therapeutic approach merits additional study as an alternative approach for MST-related care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This nonrandomized project is a mixed method analysis of clinical data collected among patients who completed treatment (n = 72) over a 6-year period (2019-2025) and reports on intervention feasibility and acceptability, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, recovery, and belongingness and shame.
This study provides preliminary evidence for feasibility, acceptability, and clinical benefit. Contrary to prediction, there were no significant pre- to posttreatment quantitative changes in shame or belongingness, although qualitative data suggested a different pattern of participant experience.
These findings suggest that a trauma-focused, discussion-centered group therapy approach may be relevant for men with histories of MST, a population with unique clinical distress and treatment underutilization. This alternative therapeutic approach merits additional study as an alternative approach for MST-related care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Authors
Yahalom Yahalom, McLean McLean, Lesser Lesser, Monteith Monteith, Hamilton Hamilton, Lang Lang
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