Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Family violence in the military: a review of the literature
Other Titles:	Trauma, violence & abuse
Authors:	Hardison, Jennifer Marxhall, Stephen W Rentz, E. Danielle Martin, Sandra L Gibbs, Deborah A Clinton-Sherrod, Monique
Keywords:	Statistics;Measurement
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	7 (2), April 2006
Notes:	General overview: This article reviews US research into child and spouse abuse in military families, and research comparing child and spouse abuse in military and civilian families. The studies comparing child abuse in military and civilian families produced inconsistent results but the three studies comparing spouse abuse all showed that spouse abuse was more prevalent and more severe in military families. Objective: The authors note that it is unclear whether family violence is more common among military or civilian families. Military families experience high stress levels due to frequent separations, long work hours, dangerous work environments, and relocations which separate the family from support networks. On the other hand, military families have housing, health care and family support programs provided to them, and have at least one employed parent who has passed literacy and aptitude tests. This review aims to address the question of whether military families are at a higher or lower risk of family violence. Methods: A search of peer-reviewed journals identified 15 studies focusing on child and/or spouse abuse in military families, and nine studies comparing child or spouse abuse in military and civilian families. Results: Of the studies reviewed, 11 examined the distribution of four types of child abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Some studies looked at reports of abuse, while others looked at substantiated abuse. In examination of four branches of the military (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps), physical abuse was the most commonly reported or substantiated type of abuse, at 31 – 71% of cases, followed by neglect at 19 – 50%. Child sexual abuse was less common at 6 – 18% and emotional abuse was the least common. Of the three studies examining spouse abuse in the Air Force and Army, physical abuse was most frequently substantiated (89 – 92%), followed by emotional abuse (7 – 11%) and sexual abuse and neglect were both less than 1%. The one study that examined both child and spouse abuse found that child physical and sexual abuse were both more likely where spouse abuse was present. Six studies compared child abuse in military and civilian families. Two studies (looking at shaken babies and child abuse homicides) suggested that child abuse was more common in military families, two studies found a lower rate of child abuse in military families, while two studies found similar rates in military and civilian families. Three studies compared spouse abuse in military and civilian populations, and all concluded that spouse physical abuse is more prevalent and severe in military families than civilian families. Conclusions: Further research into violence in military families will assist the Department of Defense to make informed decisions about service provision, reduce expenditures relating to abuse and neglect, and improve the readiness of soldiers.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/14770
ISSN:	1524-8380
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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