Elsevier

Clinical Psychology Review

Volume 25, Issue 7, November 2005, Pages 862-876
Clinical Psychology Review

Intimate partner violence among military veterans and active duty servicemen

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.05.009Get rights and content

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem that has received increased attention in the military. We review existing literature regarding prevalence, consequences, correlates, and treatment of IPV perpetration among military veterans and active duty servicemen. Rates of IPV across these military populations range from 13.5% to 58%, with considerably lower rates obtained among samples not selected on the basis of psychopathology. For both military veterans and active duty servicemen, IPV results in significant victim injury and negative child outcomes, and problematic substance use, depression, and antisocial characteristics represent psychiatric correlates of IPV perpetration. For veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder also is an important correlate that largely accounts for the relationship between combat exposure and IPV perpetration. Additional correlates include military service factors, relationship adjustment, childhood trauma, and demographic factors. The only experimentally controlled IPV treatment study indicates that standard treatments are ineffective for active duty servicemen. Further research is needed to advance the development of etiological models of IPV among military populations, to determine whether such models necessarily differ from those developed among civilians, and to rigorously test IPV interventions tailored to the specific characteristics of these individuals.

Section snippets

Identification of studies for review

Articles examining IPV perpetration by military servicemen or veterans were identified by searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress (PILOTS) database, and the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database. Search terms included: combat and violen*, combat and batter*, combat and abus*, combat and assault*, and combat and aggress*. These searches were repeated with the words war zone, warzone, veteran, and military replacing the term combat

Prevalence of IPV

Prevalence rates of IPV perpetration among active duty servicemen and veterans vary widely, with rates ranging from 13.5% to 58%. As in all IPV research, accuracy of these rates across studies may depend upon several factors such as the assessment measure used, the time period assessed, and inclusion of partners' reports. Further, the possible overrepresentation of specific forms of psychopathology, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance dependence, in some military samples

Consequences of intimate partner violence

Although relatively little systematic research has been conducted on the effects of IPV perpetration among active duty servicemen and veterans, it is clear that IPV has far reaching consequences. These effects appear to be similar to the types of consequences suffered among civilian samples; however, the severity and types of consequences have not been directly compared between military and civilian samples.

Correlates of IPV perpetration

Studies examining the correlates and potential risk factors for IPV perpetration have been limited by a reliance on cross-sectional designs and a lack of investigation into more explanatory etiological models for IPV. Currently, the correlates of IPV perpetration that have been examined among active duty servicemen and veterans can be categorized into five groups: psychopathology variables, childhood trauma variables, military service factors, relationship adjustment, and demographic factors.

Treatment of intimate partner violence perpetration

Currently, the only empirically evaluated interventions for IPV in the military include treatment programs for previously identified perpetrators. Prevention programs and strategies for identifying perpetrators have not been examined. Evaluated treatment programs have included a broad range of therapies, and have been based primarily on feminist and cognitive behavioral principles and ideologies. Several studies have included extensive follow-up periods, but only one study has employed an

Conclusions

Differences in IPV prevalence rates vary considerably across studies, and depend in part upon whether the data are obtained from representative versus non-representative samples, and according to differences in psychopathology across samples. Based on available representative studies, rates of IPV perpetration among military veterans and active duty servicemen are up to three times higher than those found among civilian samples. Further, the data indicate that IPV among military veterans causes

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      Aggression is a public health concern [1,2] and determining factors that increase risk for violence is critical. For instance, among veterans, rates of intimate partner violence are up to three times higher compared to civilians [3]. Substance use problems are another well-known risk factor for violence as demonstrated in both veterans and non-veterans [4–8].

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