Effect of Deployment on the Occurrence of Child Maltreatment in Military and Nonmilitary Families

Child maltreatment may be more likely when a family is experiencing significant distress, and military deployment may be one stressor that increases risk for child maltreatment. Child maltreatment rates for both military and civilian families were gathered from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) from 2000 to 2003. Military rates were significantly higher when deployment rates were greater, with a 30% increase in military child maltreatment for each 1% increase in departing or returning Service members.