Publication year
2010
Citation Title
Deployment and the probability of spousal aggression by U.S. Army soldiers.
Journal Name
Military Medicine
Journal Volume
175
Issue Number
5
Page Numbers
352-356
DOI
10.7205/milmed-d-10-00048
Summary
Deployment can be a significant source of stress, which may result in post-deployment relationship concerns. The association between deployment and spousal aggression was examined among married, Active Duty Soldiers from 1990-1994.The likelihood of Soldiers perpetrating severe spousal aggression was significantly greater for those who had deployed in the past year, and the longer deployment a Soldier experienced, the higher their probability of perpetrating spousal aggression.
Key Findings
There was a small, but statistically significant relationship between deployment and spousal aggression, with Active Duty Soldiers being more likely to perpetrate severe spousal aggression if they had been deployed in the previoius year.
The longer Soldiers had been deployed, the higher the probability that they would perpetrate spousal aggression.
The increase in moderate spousal aggression was not statistically significant, although those deployed 6-12 months were 5% more likely to perpetrate moderate spousal aggression than those who were not deployed.
The likelihood of severe aggression increased significantly between no deployment and less than 3 months of deployment (16%), 3-6 months of deployment (26%), and 6-12 months of deployment (35%).
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer domestic violence awareness and prevention workshops that discuss aspects of the deployment cycle as a potential risk factor for spousal aggression within military couples
Provide programs that teach healthy relationship skills and conflict resolution skills for Service members experiencing marital conflict
Tailor efforts to decrease spousal aggression to Service members at the highest risk of perpetration (e.g., based on number and length of deployments, demographic and military characteristics)
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support in-depth research on the relationship between deployment and spousal aggression, identifying risk and protective factors for intervention
Encourage awareness campaigns to increase knowledge about the relationship between deployment and spousal aggression and to decrease stigma about seeking assistance for spousal conflict and abuse
Recommend education for professionals working with military couples about how to detect warning signs of spousal aggression
Methods
Married, Active Dury Soldiers from 47 U.S. Army installations were surveyed about marital conflict from 1990-1994.
Anonymous surveys, originally collected for the Family Advocacy Program, were randomly collected from 15% of the married, Active Duty Soldiers.
The relationship between deployment and spousal aggression was examined, controlling for race, age group, Army rank, and children living in the home.
Participants
Participants included 26,835 married, Active Duty U.S. Soldiers.
Soldiers were primarily White (63%), male (95%), and enlisted (83%), and 43% had been deployed in the past year.
No additional demographic information was provided.
Limitations
Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, it cannot be concluded that deployment causes increased spousal aggression.
Soldiers may have tried to respond in the most favorable way; therefore, findings based exclusively on self-report of aggression may be biased.
Other unmeasured variables may have influenced results (e.g., deployment location, combat exposure, history of abuse).
Avenues for Future Research
Examine potential mechanisms through which deployment may lead to increased spousal aggression (e.g., relationship separation disagreements, mental health difficulties)
Explore which types of marital conflict incidents progress to severe aggression and how these situations can be de-escalated
Conduct a longitudinal study of the relationship between deployment and spousal aggression, utilizing reports from multiple sources (e.g., Service members, spouses, commanding officers, family advocacy program personnel)
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between length of soldier deployment and self-reports of moderate and severe spousal violence. Methods: The Conflict Tactics Scale was used to measure self-reports of behaviors exhibited in marital conflict. Surveys were administered to a 15% random sample of 26,835 deployed and nondeployed married active duty U.S. Army men and women in the 50 United States during the period 1990 to 1994. Multinomial logistic regression and ordered probit analysis were used to estimate the probabilities of moderate and severe violence by length of deployment. Results: After controlling for demographic variables, the probability of severe aggression was significantly greater for soldiers who had deployed in the past year compared with soldiers who had not deployed. Conclusions: Deployment contributes a significant but small increase to the probability of self-reported spousal aggression during a 1-year period. Although deployment is a military operation, similar effects may be observed in certain civilian occupations.
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