Relationship conflict and partner violence by UK military personnel following return from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan

Abstract

Purpose Risk of violence by UK military personnel, both towards non-family and family, has been found to be higher post-deployment. However, no UK research to date has attempted to examine relationship conflict and intimate partner violence (IPV) in this period. This study estimated the prevalence of and risk factors for post-deployment relationship conflict and partner violence in UK military personnel. Methods We utilised data on military personnel who had deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan (n = 5437), drawn from a large cohort study into the health and well-being of UK military personnel. Results 34.7% reported relationship conflict (arguing with partner) and 3.4% reported perpetrating physical IPV post-deployment. Males were more likely than females to report relationship conflict. There were similar rates of self-reported physical IPV perpetration among males and females. Among our male sample, factors associated with both relationship conflict and physical IPV perpetration post-deployment included being in the Army compared with the Royal Air Force, higher levels of childhood adversity, higher levels of military trauma exposure and recent mental health and alcohol misuse problems. Being over 40 at time of deployment (vs being under 25) and having deployed in a combat role were also associated with relationship conflict, but not physical IPV perpetration. Conclusions Deployment-related variables and mental health and alcohol misuse problems were found to be key factors associated with post-deployment relationship conflict and IPV. Services providing health or welfare support to military personnel must collaborate with mental health services and consider history of deployment, and particularly deployment-related trauma, in their assessments to improve identification and management of intimate partner violence and abuse in military communities.

Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse: A Qualitative Exploration of UK Military Personnel and Civilian Partner Experiences

“…Serving and ex-serving military personnel, and especially civilian respondents, identified high risk periods for IPVA, including the peri-deployment period and transitions out of Service. Post-deployment mental health was identified as a trigger for perpetration by both perpetrators and victim-survivors within the sample, corroborating research which has found deployment-related trauma to be associated with IPVA perpetration (Kwan et al, 2018(Kwan et al, , 2020Lane et al, 2022;MacManus et al, 2022). Poor mental health in the period following deployment was an especially prominent trigger for IPVA victimisation identified by male personnel, supporting previous quantitative research findings (Sparrow et al, 2017(Sparrow et al, , 2020.…”

Intimate partner violence and abuse experience and perpetration in UK military personnel compared to a general population cohort: A cross-sectional study

“…Of note, however, intensity of exposure to trauma while on deployment was associated with increased risk of perpetration of all types of IPVA, adding to the mounting evidence for the link between deployment-related trauma and IPVA perpetration. 8 , 34 Intensity of trauma exposure was also found to be associated with EPC abuse experience among military personnel, which is a new finding, and highlights a broader vulnerability associated with traumatic experiences beyond the risk of perpetration. Supporting existing literature, probable mental health difficulties and alcohol misuse were strongly and independently associated with IPVA perpetration and experience (probable CMD associated with EPC abuse perpetration only).…”

“… 6 , 8 , 12 , 13 This adds to recent research finding an association between IPVA and post-deployment mental health difficulties. 34 Qualitative work has facilitated better understanding of the complexity and nuances of the association between deployment, mental health difficulties and both IPVA perpetration and experience, the different potential underlying pathways and mechanisms, and different contexts in which it can arise. 26 For example, in studies of the impact of military service in relationships, many participants described mutually conflictual relationships.…”

Impact of life-threatening military incidents during deployments abroad on the relationships between military personnel and their families

“…Additionally, those who were exposed to a life-threatening military incident were 1.4 times more likely to report negative effects on their relationships ( 28 ). Another study reported a 3.4% rate of intimate partner violence in military families after deployment ( 29 ). Taylor and colleagues found an increased risk of child maltreatment after deployment up to six months later.…”