Trauma is common in women; five out of ten women experience a
traumatic event. Women tend to experience different traumas then
men. While both men and women report the same symptoms of PTSD (hyperarousal, reexperiencing, avoidance, and numbing), some symptoms are more common for women or men.
History
Most early information on trauma and PTSD came from studies of
male veterans mostly Vietnam veterans. Researchers began
to study the effects of sexual assault and found that
women's reactions were similar to male combat veterans.
Women's experiences of trauma can also cause PTSD. This
finding led to more research on women's exposure to trauma
and PTSD.
Risk of Experiencing Trauma
Findings from a large national mental health study show that a
little more than half of all women will experience at least one
traumatic event in their life. Women are slightly less likely to
experience trauma than men.
The most common trauma for women is sexual assault or child
sexual abuse. About 1 in 3 women will experience a sexual assault
in their lifetime. Rates of sexual assault are higher for women
than men. Women are also more likely to be neglected or abused in
childhood, to experience domestic violence, or to have a loved
one suddenly die.
What Happens After Trauma
After a trauma, some women may feel depressed, start drinking
or using drugs, or develop PTSD. Women are more than twice as
likely to develop PTSD than men (10% for women and 4% for men).
There are a few reasons women might get PTSD more than men:
Women are more likely to experience sexual assault.
Sexual assault is more likely to cause PTSD than many
other events.
Women may be more likely to blame themselves for
trauma experiences than men.
Why are some women at higher risk for PTSD?
Not all women who experience a traumatic event
develop PTSD. Women are more likely to develop PTSD
if they:
Have a past mental health problem (e.g., depression or anxiety)
Experienced a very severe or life-threatening trauma
Were sexually assaulted
Were injured during the event
Had a severe reaction at the time of the event
Experienced other stressful events afterwards
Do not have good social support
What PTSD is Like for Women
Some PTSD symptoms are more common in women than
men. Women are more likely to be jumpy, to have more
trouble feeling emotions, and to avoid things that
remind them of the trauma than men. Men are more
likely to feel angry and to have trouble controlling
their anger then women. Women may take longer to
recover from PTSD and are four times more likely than
men to have long-lasting PTSD. Women with PTSD also
are more likely to feel depressed and anxious, while
men with PTSD are more likely to have problems with
alcohol or drugs. Both women and men who experience
PTSD may develop physical health problems.
Treatment for PTSD
There are good treatments for PTSD. However, not
everyone who experiences a trauma seeks treatment.
Women may be more likely than men to seek help after
a traumatic event. At least one study found that
women respond to treatment as well as or better than
men. This may be because women are generally more
comfortable sharing feelings and talking about
personal things with others than men.
Women in the Military
Women in the military are at high risk for
exposure to traumatic events, especially during times
of war. Currently, about 15% of all military
personnel in Iraq are women. Although men are more
likely to experience combat, a growing number of
women are now being exposed to combat.
Women in the military are at higher risk for
exposure to sexual harassment or sexual assault than
men. Future studies are needed to better understand
the effects of women's exposure to both combat
and sexual assault.
