NCJ Number
216157
Journal
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse: A Review Journal Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 93-108
Date Published
April 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This literature review critically analyzes studies that examine child maltreatment and spouse abuse among military families and compares family violence in military to nonmilitary populations.
Abstract
The literature review found that there were few studies concerning the extent of violence in military families. Physical abuse and neglect compose the majority of reported and substantiated cases of child maltreatment in the military, followed by sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Physical abuse represented more than 90 percent of all substantiated cases of spouse abuse in military families. A study published in 1977 was the only one found on the prevalence of child maltreatment. In examining the extent of child maltreatment in the military versus nonmilitary, differences were found in the various study results. Two studies suggest more abuse and neglect in the military, two studies suggest a lower overall rate of abuse and neglect in the military, and two studies suggest more and less severe maltreatment in military compared to nonmilitary populations, depending on the type of maltreatment examined. However, the findings were consistent for studies examining spouse abuse. It is important to further examine service availability and utilization to determine the impact on family violence with a continued focus on understanding child maltreatment and spouse abuse within its community. Family violence, including both child maltreatment and spouse abuse, is a public health concern in both military and civilian populations. Yet, there is limited knowledge concerning violence in military families relative to civilian families. Tables, references