Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse Among Active Duty Military Women

• NCJ Number: 201929
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 9 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2003 Pages: 1072-1092
• Author(s): Jacquelyn C. Campbell; Mary A. Garza; Andrea Carlson Gielen; Patricia O'Campo; Joan Kub; Jacqueline Dienemann; Alison Snow Jones; Eiman Jafar
• Date Published: September 2003
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among active duty military (ADM) women.

Abstract

IPV is defined as physical and/or sexual assault or threats between sexually intimate partners. The military addresses domestic violence as violence or threats between marital partners and some of the services include emotional abuse. A survey was conducted of those residing in the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Data were collected from January 1998 to October 2000 using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database of ADM women. Women were screened for abuse using a modified version of the Abuse Assessment Screen. The results show that 22 percent of the ADM women reported physical and/or sexual assault, and 36 percent reported some type of abuse, including emotional abuse, from an intimate partner while serving in the military. Nine percent had managed to end the violence before their military service. This sample of ADM women was more highly educated, had a higher proportion of officers, and had a lower proportion of minority ethnic group membership than ADM women in general. Adult lifetime prevalence of intimate partner physical and/or sexual assault of the ADM women was slightly lower than the comparison group of civilian women. The risk factors for IPV were nearly the same as those found in the demographically and geographically similar civilian sample. The middle-aged group (40 to 49) in the ADM sample was associated with a slightly increased risk for lifetime prevalence of IPV. Divorce or separation significantly increased risk in both samples. Significantly more African-American ADM women reported lifetime prevalence of IPV than did White ADM women. A significant risk associated with rank was also demonstrated. The final significant risk factor was children, with three or more children presenting the strongest risk. 1 figure, 3 tables, 33 references