Publication year
2014
Citation Title
Child maltreatment before and after combat-related deployment among Active-Duty United States Air Force maltreating parents.
Journal Name
Psychology of Violence
Journal Volume
4
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
143-155
DOI
10.1037/a0031766
Summary
Understanding rates and risk factors for child maltreatment among military populations is vital for creating effective prevention and intervention programs. The frequency of child maltreatment perpetrated by Active Duty Air Force members deployed during OEF/OIF was compared pre- and post-deployment. Unexpectedly, the overall frequency of child maltreatment was almost 13% lower post-deployment compared to pre-deployment, however more severe forms of child maltreatment increased following deployment.
Key Findings
Contrary to expectations, the frequency of child maltreatment was 12.8% lower post-deployment compared to pre-deployment.
More mild forms of child maltreatment (i.e., emotional abuse, mild neglect) decreased from pre-deployment to post-deployment; however, more severe forms of maltreatment either remained stable over time (i.e., physical abuse) or increased following deployment (i.e., severe neglect, sexual abuse).
Child victims were most likely to experience neglect (44%), followed by emotional abuse (39%), physical abuse (30%), and sexual abuse (2%).
The majority of victimized children experienced mild maltreatment (69%), while 31% experienced at least one moderate to severe incident and 13% experienced maltreatment with parent alcohol use involved.
Implications for Program Leaders
Disseminate information to military families about signs and symptoms of child maltreatment and how to report susptected cases of child maltreatment in the military
Integrate child maltreatment education and prevention into existing groups for military parents with drug and alcohol abuse
Educate military parents about effective, positive parenting, alternative disicpline strategies, and stress management techniques
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend routine screenings of military children for child maltreatment to allow for identification of families at risk
Encourage professionals working with military families to receive training regarding risk factors for child maltreatment in military families
Recommend integrating child maltreatment education into military parenting programs to improve prevention efforts
Methods
Data included in the study were gathered from several U.S. Air Force databases used to track Service member deployment information and military child maltreatment information.
Data for child maltreatment incidents were included if they were substantiated cases of child maltreatment by a parent who was an Active Duty Air Force member and was deployed at least once during OEF/OIF.
The frequency of child maltreatment rates, including overall rates, rates of specific types of child maltreatment, and rates categorized by other characteristics of the offender or incident, were described and compared pre- and post-deployment.
Participants
The data included 2,287 children, who were 54% male, had an average age of 5.89 years (SD = 4.61), and experienced a total of 2,563 substantiated maltreatment incidents.
At the time of the first maltreatment incident, offenders had an average age of 29.90 years (SD = 6.25); they were primarily male (89%) and enlisted (96%).
Children were 63% White, 16% Black, 7% Latino, 2% Asian American, 1% Native American, and 11% Multiracial.
Limitations
Only child maltreatment events perpetrated by Air Force members were included, so findings may not generalize to members of other military branches.
The incidence of child maltreatment is likely under-reported, and findings may be affected by differences between incidents that are reported and substantiated versus those that are not.
Other variables (e.g., offenders' mental health status or combat exposure) may have influenced results.
Avenues for Future Research
Compare rates of child maltreatment between different branches of the military, as well as with civilian rates
Explore factors that may help explain the decrease in mild and increase in severe maltreatment post-deployment, such as mental health functioning, supportive resources available, or combat exposure
Investigate whether number of children and feelings of being overwhelmed with parenting contribute to child maltreatment offender risk
Focus
Air Force
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Objective: To conduct the first population-based study comparing the frequency of child maltreatment among active-duty United States Air Force (USAF) maltreating parents before and after combat-related deployment. Method: By combining archival databases, we identified 2,287 children with a total of 2,563 substantiated maltreatment incidents perpetrated by USAF parents who deployed during an 85-month study period during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Results: Contrary to expectations, overall the frequency of child maltreatment was significantly lower after than before deployment, and this pattern did not vary as a function of the number of combat-related deployments. Further, the frequency of child maltreatment was lower postdeployment relative to predeployment for emotional abuse, mild neglect, and maltreatment not involving alcohol, but the frequency was higher postdeployment for child sexual abuse and severe child neglect, particularly when severe child neglect involved alcohol. Conclusions: In general, among children who experienced parental maltreatment by a deploying USAF parent, milder forms of child maltreatment were less common postdeployment, whereas severe types of child maltreatment were more common. Possible explanations implicate predeployment differences in resources and functioning or postdeployment differences in posttraumatic growth and maturation between parental perpetrators of mild versus more severe maltreatment. Postdeployment child maltreatment surveillance efforts should be vigilant for signs of severe forms of child maltreatment, which appear to be most likely to increase.
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