Adverse Occupational Outcomes Among US Service Members With Sexual Health Difficulties: Findings From the Millennium Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively examine the independent associations between sexual health difficulties (SHD) and occupational outcomes, after accounting for posttraumatic stress disorder and/or depression, among service members.

METHODS

Data were from service members who completed a Millennium Cohort survey in 2014-2016 (T1) and 2019-2021 (T2). SHD (T1) were defined as "bothered a lot" by (1) little sexual desire/pleasure or (2) pain/problems during sex. Adverse occupational outcomes (T2) included lost workdays, physical or emotional work limitations, and other financial problems. Logistic regression models adjusted for demographic, military, and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

Among 24,761 service members, 7.2% reported SHD. After adjustment, those with SHD were more likely to experience all 6 occupational outcomes than those without SHD.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest independent associations between SHD and occupational outcomes and warrant the expansion of SHD-related healthcare services and treatment among service members.