Publication year
2010
Citation Title
Patterns of intimate partner violence and associated risk factors among married enlisted female soldiers
Journal Name
Violence & Victims
Journal Volume
25
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
45-61
DOI
10.1891/0886-6708.25.1.45
Summary
Relationships between psychosocial risk factors and six patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Active Duty females and their spouses were examined. To explore these relationships 248 Active Duty female Soldiers were survey about sex-role attitudes, marital satisfaction, alcohol use, childhood trauma, and depression. The six patterns of violence between partners were no violence, bidirectional symmetrical severe violence or injury, bidirectional symmetrical sever psychological aggression only, bidirectional symmetrical minor physical and/ or sexual violence, female perpetrator- unilateral/bidirectional asymmetrical, and male perpetrator- unilateral/bidirectional asymmetrical. Overall, significant relationships were found between psychosocial risk factors and patterns of violence.
Key Findings
Active Duty females who experienced severe bidirectional violence were likely to be the most depressed across the six patterns of violence.
Active Duty females who experienced minor bidirectional violence did not share any of the psychosocial risk factors found for females experiencing severe bidirectional violence.
Active Duty females who perpetrated unilateral violence toward their spouses were found to be as satisfied in their marriages as nonviolent couples.
Implications for Program Leaders
Continue to provide training opportunities for professionals who work with Service members and their families to learn more about IPV and its effects on the individual as well as their family
Engage female Service members and their intimate partners in classes that aim to increase communication and decrease physical or verbal aggression
Disseminate information regarding possible warning signs of IPV to professionals who work with Service members and their families
Implications for Policy Makers
Promote the development of structured workshops for Service members and their partners on healthy relationships
Encourage awareness among professionals who work with female Service members and their partners on the importance of developing programming and support for IPV victims
Recommend collaboration between DoD programs and local community organizations to support treatment programs for female Service members who are IPV victims
Methods
Participants were recruited by their Army installation commander and invited to attend an informational session about the study.
The survey administered comprised the following scales: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST), Sex-Role Egalitarianism Scale (SRE), Short Marital Adjustment Test (SMAT), Conflict Tactics Scale 2, and the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale.
Statistical analyses examined the relationships between psychosocial risk factors and the six patterns of violence identified in the authors’ previous study.
Participants
Participants were married an average of 6 years and served in the military an average of 7 years.
Forty percent of the sample were Black, 37% were White, 11% were Latino, 5% were Asian American, 3% were Native American, and 4% were other.
Fifty-two percent of the Active Duty female sample had a high school diploma, 6% had a GED or less, 35% had an Associates degree, and 7% had a Bachelors degree or higher.
Limitations
Black enlisted females were underrepresented in the sample (40%) compared to the installation population (51%); which could have biased results.
The study did not measure the witnessing of IPV as a child, which limited the strength of the analysis.
The study did not measure motives or the emotional impact of IPV which could have influenced which violence pattern group participants were placed.
Avenues for Future Research
Explore combat-related risk factors, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury and the Active Duty female’s IPV experience within the military
Examine the relationship between adult sexual trauma outside of the marital relationship and IPV among Active Duty female Soldiers
Evaluate diverse approaches used to address the different patterns of unilateral and bidirectional violence for Active Duty female Soldiers
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
A sample of 248 enlisted active duty females married to civilian spouses completed a self-report survey that asked about their own and their spouse’s violence. The survey also asked about their sex-role attitudes, marital satisfaction, alcohol use, childhood trauma, and depression. Results identified patterns of intimate partner violence and their relationship to the psychosocial risk factors. Females experiencing severe bidirectional violence were likely to be the most depressed and to have a history of child sexual abuse. Females experiencing minor bidirectional violence did not share any of the psychosocial risk factors found for severe bidirectional violence. Females perpetrating unilateral violence toward their spouses were found to be as satisfied in their marriages as nonviolent couples and less depressed than the females experiencing bidirectional violence.
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