Publication year
2015
Citation Title
“Strength at Home” intervention for male veterans perpetrating intimate partner aggression: Perceived needs survey of therapists and pilot effectiveness study.
Journal Name
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Journal Volume
30
Issue Number
13
Page Numbers
2344-2362
DOI
10.177/0886260514552445
Summary
This study examines the experience of a small group of Veterans participating in a pilot study of a program called the Strength at Home intervention, a 12-session group treatment program for military personnel with a history of intimate partner aggression. Participants in this pilot study showed decreased emotional abuse and anger expression after participating in the program.
Key Findings
Veterans who participated in the Strength at Home pilot study showed decreased psychological aggression and increased anger control, both shortly after treatment and at the six-month follow-up.
The program retention rate was quite high, with 86% of the Veterans who began the treatment completing the 12-session protocol.
During post-treatment focus groups, Veterans expressed a positive response to the program and reported that it was culturally appropriate.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide workshops for Service members to enhance skills, such as effective communication, that may help prevent intimate partner aggression in those who have experienced combat trauma
Provide workshops for Service members to enhance skills, such as effective communication, that may help prevent intimate partner aggression in those who have experienced combat trauma
Offer peer support programs for Service members at risk for perpetrating intimate partner violence
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend periodic screening of Service members and their families for family violence perpetration and victimization
Promote the development and evaluation of military-specific family violence prevention and treatment programs
Encourage providers who care for families affected by intimate partner violence to receive training that includes information about the specific context in which this violence may occur for military families
Methods
Male Veterans were recruited from the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Pacific Island Health Care System through provider referral or self-referral from posted flyers.
Veteran participants and their female partners completed assessments of conflict, physical aggression, psychological aggression, and anger at three time points: baseline, shortly after treatment, and six months after treatment.
Following treatment, Veterans participated in focus groups to collect qualitative data about their experiences.
Participants
There were six Veterans who participated in the pilot study, ranging in age from 24 to 67 years old, with a mean age of 43.8 years old (SD = 16).
These Veterans were Latino/Latina (33%), Multiracial (33%), White (17%), and Native American (17%).
Of those participating, 67% of the Veterans served in the Army, 17% in the Air Force, and 17% in the Marines.
Limitations
The sample was very small, with only six participants, so it is difficult to generalize results to larger populations.
The Veterans self-selected into the program, so participants may differ from non-participants in some important ways that limit the ability to extend findings beyond this specific group.
There was a wide age range among participants, and with the small sample size, it is difficult to differentiate results within or across age groups.
Avenues for Future Research
Survey a broader sample of mental health providers to assess the need for military-specific intimate partner violence (IPV) treatment programs nationwide
Run larger-scale clinical trials of the Strength at Home intervention to increase knowledge about the program’s effectiveness
Investigate characteristics of the eligible Veterans who were referred to the study but did not complete treatment to better understand possible self-selection bias
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Veteran and active duty populations evidence higher rates of intimate partner aggression (IPA) than comparable civilian groups, perhaps due in part to their unique service-related experiences. IPA offender treatment programs that take military background into consideration are not widely available, and it is unclear to what extent there is a perceived need for them among clinicians who serve service members and Veterans. Strength at Home (SAH) is a promising 12-session cognitive-behavioral group intervention designed to address IPA perpetration in military populations. While clinical support for SAH is emerging, the extent to which service members and Veterans find it appropriate and helpful is not yet known. Goals of the current study were threefold: (a) assess the perceived need for a military-specific IPA program among Veterans Administration and community domestic violence (DV) program providers; (b) conduct a pilot study to examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of SAH in a sample drawn from a diverse, multicultural community; and (c) conduct focus groups to obtain participant feedback on the SAH protocol. Findings from the provider survey suggested a need for specialty programs to treat military personnel who perpetrate IPA of mild to moderate severity. Results of the SAH pilot study (n = 6) indicated decreased psychological aggression and increased anger control from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Focus group feedback indicated participants found the program to be helpful and appropriate across a wide variety of ethno-cultural variables. As more service members and Veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan war era reintegrate into our communities, it will become increasingly important for providers in both private and public sectors of care to understand the unique needs of this treatment population, and to have access to effective IPA treatment programs.
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