Spouse abuse and combat-related deployments in active duty Air Force couples

Objective: To conduct the first population-based study comparing spouse abuse rates before and after combat-related deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom among married U.S. Air Force personnel. Method: The sample included all married Air Force members with at least one substantiated incident of spouse physical or emotional abuse and at least one combat-related deployment between October 1, 2001 and October 31, 2008. Results: Overall, 6,063 individuals in 4,874 couples perpetrated 7,003 spouse abuse incidents across 9,676,517 person-days at risk. In couples where only one spouse abused and alcohol was involved, the abuse rate was significantly higher postdeployment. In couples where only the husband abused, the moderate/severe abuse rate was 24.0% higher postdeployment. In couples where only the husband abused, abuse was moderate/severe, and alcohol was used the abuse rate was 36.8% higher postdeployment. Despite these increases, among all abusive couples, the overall spouse abuse rate was 12.6% lower postdeployment. This finding was not moderated by military status, abuse type, year of first deployment, number of deployments, or total deployment duration. Conclusions: The impact of combat-related deployment on spouse abuse rates is variable with incidents involving moderate/severe abuse and alcohol being relatively more likely postdeployment, suggesting a need for focused prevention/intervention efforts. Families struggling with both violence and alcohol problems might benefit from collaboration between the Air Force Family Advocacy Program and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)