Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Military and Veteran Populations: A Systematic Review of Population-Based Surveys and Population Screening Studies

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) may be a major concern in military and veteran populations, and the aims of this systematic review were to (1) provide best available estimates of overall prevalence based on studies that are most representative of relevant populations, and (2) contextualise these via examination of IPV types, impacts, and context. An electronic search of PsycINFO, CINHAL, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library databases identified studies utilising population-based designs or population screening strategies to estimate prevalence of IPV perpetration or victimisation reported by active duty (AD) military personnel or veterans. Random effects meta-analyses were used for quantitative analyses and were supplemented by narrative syntheses of heterogeneous data. Thirty-one studies involving 172,790 participants were included in meta-analyses. These indicated around 13% of all AD personnel and veterans reported any recent IPV perpetration, and around 21% reported any recent victimisation. There were higher rates of IPV perpetration in studies of veterans and health service settings, but no discernible differences were found according to gender, era of service, or country of origin. Psychological IPV was the most common form identified, while there were few studies of IPV impacts, or coercive and controlling behaviours. The findings demonstrate that IPV perpetration and victimisation occur commonly among AD personnel and veterans and highlight a strong need for responses across military and veteran-specific settings. However, there are gaps in understanding of impacts and context for IPV, including coercive and controlling behaviours, which are priority considerations for future research and policy.

Effects of Intimate Partner Violence During COVID-19 and Pandemic-Related Stress on the Mental and Physical Health of Women Veterans

“…Absent from research on IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic are women veterans, whom experience high risk for IPV. 15,16 Women veterans also have greater trauma exposures than non-Veteran women. 17,18 Military sexual trauma (MST) and combat exposure are prevalent military-related experiences among women veterans.…”

Recovering from Intimate Partner Violence through Strengths and Empowerment (RISE): Initial Evaluation of the Clinical Effects of RISE Administered in Routine Care in the US Veterans Health Administration

“…These findings are informing the scale-up of RISE in the VHA and may be helpful to other healthcare settings that desire to implement psychosocial counseling interventions for patients who experience IPV. In particular, IPV is a common social determinant of health among Veterans and there is a strong need for evidence-based interventions to be implemented in Veteran-specific settings [ 90 ].…”

Complexities of intimate partner violence and insomnia: why some midlife women cannot sleep

“…However, estimates of IPV victimization in both men and women, general and military populations are predicated on insufficiently described samples and carry interpretation challenges. Among women military personnel, published prevalence rates have ranged from 5% to 58% 7 . Wide ranges across any studies have probable contributors that include varied sampling, often with mixes of types of IPV exposure and mixes of veterans and/or active-duty participants.…”

“…As further related to interpretive challenges, women as the recipients of IPV are of preeminent concern in women's health care, but interestingly, evidence from military populations has shown that both women and men perpetrate IPV and rates of victimization between them remain undifferentiated. In their meta-analysis of 31 population survey or screening studies across multiple countries (n = 26 from the United States) with veteran and/or active-duty male and female personnel reporting recent IPV perpetration or victimization (in the past year, past 6 months, past month, or within current relationship), Cowlishaw et al 7 indicated that about 13% (95% CI, 4.9%-29.0%) claimed recent perpetration and 21% (95% CI, 13.1%-31.1%) reported recent victimization (n = 14 studies), which is higher than in the general mixed gender population whereby ~6% reported past-year perpetration and ~5% reported past-year victimization. In the reviewed studies, no gender-related differences were detected for either perpetration or victimization.…”

“…Among women military personnel, published prevalence rates have ranged from 5% to 58%. 7 Wide ranges across any studies have probable contributors that include varied sampling, often with mixes of types of IPV exposure and mixes of veterans and/or active-duty participants. Tending to inflate estimates is convenience sampling, especially from settings where victims are seeking services.…”