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.