No abstract

Along with service members, military families bear the brute consequences of global U.S. military intervention. Various studies have concluded that these deployments put military families at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Using structural equation modeling (SEM) as a novel approach to examine IPV among pre-9/11 military families, this study considers variations of self-reported IPV from the point of the abused partner to test the impact of several life events and demographic factors on the type of IPV most prevalent among perpetrators. The study sample contains information about 599 male perpetrators from the Nature and Scope of Violence Against Women in San Diego, California (1996-1998), a survey about domestic violence from clients admitted to women’s shelters. Perpetrators race/ethnicity, age, military experience, previous exposure to abuse, income, and education were modeled using SEM procedures to determine the frequency of IPV perpetrated under the influence of certain substances and etiologic characteristics. Particular attention focused on the differences among the military’s racial and ethnic groups and on the overall differences between IPV perpetrations among military families to nonmilitary families. Study findings indicate that (a) irrespective of race, pre-9/11 veteran perpetrators commit verbal/mental abuse more often than other forms of IPV, (b) when taking race/ethnicity into account, for veterans, there are differences with IPV perpetration trends and substance use, and (c) IPV perpetration trends are different between veteran and nonveteran groups, irrespective of race.

Using twenty-six interviews with Mexican American veterans, this study analyzes cohort effects between Vietnam War veterans to Iraq and/or Afghanistan veterans on the meanings and experiences of pain from combat, masculinity, and how ethnicity affects expressions of pain. Although there were relative similarities between the cohorts, differences arose because of age. Vietnam veterans understood their pain to be long-lasting and have built coping mechanisms around a lifetime of pain, as opposed to younger veterans who have not yet solidified coping strategies. Machismo plays a dynamic part in the expression and daily experience with pain for young veterans, as opposed to older veterans who enjoy relaxed gendered obligations based on their age. Finally, older veterans used family as a base of social support, as opposed to younger veterans who found support from peer-mentor programs. In addition, respondents indicated that machismo acted more as guiding principle and offered them motivations to seek help, and not necessarily barriers to health. Overall, both cohorts are governed by strict gender standards and expressions influenced by their ethnic identity. Findings suggest that the study of race/ethnicity and age plays a fundamental framework from which to understand the experiences and behaviors of pain.

This study considers variations of intimate partner violence (IPV) from the point of the perpetrator to test the impact of demographic factors on the type of IPV most prevalent among pre-9/11 and post-9/11 military families from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1994–2008): Waves I and IV in-home interviews ( N = 499). Study findings indicate that the perpetration of physical and sexual IPV depends on the context of veteran cohort and race/ethnicity. Models for substance use and IPV patterns were not similar across military cohorts and/or racial/ethnic groups.

Physical and emotional pain from combat-related injuries and experiences are serious problems among Latino veterans. This study fleshes out existing cultural constructs and concepts (e.g., machismo and familism) from the participants’ point of view and may serve as an important step in unraveling the influence of Latino culture on pain, providing a deeper and more critical theorization between masculinity, race/ethnicity, and the military. Using 26 interviews from U.S.-born Latino veterans, this study analyzes the meanings and experiences of pain from combat, masculinity, and how culture affects expressions of pain. The following themes emerged: (a) Latino culture and ethnicity, (b) machismo and pain, (c) the transforming self, and (d) feeling disconnected and dealing with pain. Overall, respondents were governed by strict gender standards influenced by their ethnic identity and exacerbated by military masculinity. Findings suggest that the study of race/ethnicity acts as a fundamental framework from which to understand the experiences and behaviors of pain.