Abstract
Background
Using an experimental study, we examined the link between state moral elevation and stigmatic beliefs surrounding male veterans with military sexual trauma (MST).
Methods
Undergraduate students were presented with a video or written narrative of a male veteran self-disclosing how they struggled with and overcame MST (n = 292). Participants completed measures regarding trait and demographic characteristics at baseline, then measures immediately after the disclosure stimulus to assess immediate elevation and stigma-related reactions.
Results
Results suggest state-level elevation in response to a veteran self-disclosing their experience with MST was negatively correlated with harmful stigmatic beliefs about MST. A greater predisposition to experience elevation and PTSD symptoms were linked with stronger elevation responses to the stimulus.
Conclusion
Findings support the need for further exploration of elevation and its potential to impact public stigma for male veterans with MST.
Description
This article is published by BMC, part of Springer Nature, under a Creative Commons BY licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Publisher
BMC
Date of publication
2022
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/4152
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Staley, Gracie; Vieira Zaidan, Ana Clara; Childers, Lucas G.; Daniel, Ray; Lauderdale, Sean A.; and McGuire, Adam P., "Commending rather than condemning: Moral elevation and stigma for male veterans with military sexual trauma" (2022). Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations. Paper 4.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/4152
Publisher Citation
Staley, G., Zaidan, A.C.V., Henley, K. et al. Commending rather than condemning: Moral elevation and stigma for male veterans with military sexual trauma. BMC Psychol 10, 292 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-01002-4