Blogging as recovery: The use of blogs by survivors of military sexual trauma

Military sexual trauma (MST) is a significant concern in the United States military and poses distinct challenges to survivors in seeking traditional means of support. While research has shown blogs to be an effective means of working through crises and seeking support, little work has focused on MST survivors and their use of blogs. In this study, we drew on Herman's stages of recovery in an analysis of 659 posts from five blogs written by MST survivors to understand their blogging behavior. We found that bloggers frequently use their blogs to perform what may be thought of as traditional recovery work. In particular, MST survivors blogged as a means of reconstructing their personal narratives and identities, as well as reaching out and reconnecting with others. In contrast, recovery work focused on establishing safety was underrepresented. Overall, findings suggest blogs to be a useful tool in recovering from sexual trauma and warrant further examination of other online spaces for recovery.