“In the cross-fire”: intimate partner violence in military families

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an ingrained public health and social problem having serious short- and long-term outcomes for women and children in particular. Similar to society as a whole, the military is not immune from the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) in its ranks, where it may be more severe and have special significance. Whilst acknowledging the unique problems military men and women face, characteristics associated with being in the military organization may make individuals who commit IPV both similar and different from the civilian population. Military-specific factors may include military culture, sanctioned violence, length of deployment, combat stress, and its mental health sequelae, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, heavy alcohol consumption, and depression. Absenteeism, productivity losses and increased healthcare expenditure for employees and family members are of concern to the military. Family members are often the neglected ones whose voices may not be heard by policymakers. An ecological overview of the military family literature is provided with a focus on the Australian context. Recommendations for IPV prevention and intervention are outlined at the macro, meso, and micro levels.