Emotional abuse and its unique ecological correlates among military personnel and spouses
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Foran, H. M., Heyman, R. E., Smith Slep, A. M., & United States Air Force Family Advocacy Research Program (2014). Emotional abuse and its unique ecological correlates among military personnel and spouses. Psychology of Violence, 4(2), 128-142. doi:10.1037/a0034536
Abstract Created by REACH:
All types of abuse, including emotional abuse, can be influenced by risk factors from multiple ecological levels (e.g., family, community, workplace). The correlates of clinically significant emotional abuse were examined among Active Duty Air Force personnel and their civilian spouses via an anonymous survey. Factors associated with increased risk for experiencing abuse differed between men and women at different ecological levels, but the strongest correlates of emotional abuse were relationship dissatisfaction, poor self-efficacy, financial stress, and alcohol problems.
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Physical health
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Spouse of service member or veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Empirical Study
Quantitative Study
Cross-Sectional Study
Authors:
Foran, Heather M., Heyman, Richard E., Slep, Amy M. S.
Abstract:
Objective: Identify unique correlates of clinically significant emotional abuse (CS-EA) in a large representative U.S. sample of men and women. Method: Active duty members of the U.S. Air Force in relationships (N = 42,744) and civilian spouses (N = 17,266) from 82 bases worldwide completed an anonymous online survey on CS-EA, individual, family, community, and workplace risk factors. Results: Relationship dissatisfaction, poor self-efficacy, financial stress, and alcohol problems were among the strongest correlates of emotional abuse among the 21 factors examined. In addition, community factors such as support from neighbors and community cohesion independently related to men’s CS-EA, whereas workplace factors were uniquely related to victimization among active duty and civilian women. The strength of bivariate associations with CS-EA for several family, workplace, and community factors differed by military/civilian status, gender, and marital status, but overall ecological models replicated across gender. Conclusions: Although many workplace and community factors were related to CS-EA bivariately, only a select few were related after accounting for individual and family factors. CS-EA is an understudied but important public health problem and the current study helps to identify key correlates of CS-EA that can help inform prevention and treatment efforts aimed at reducing partner violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Educational Publishing Foundation
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Institute for Psychology, University of Braunschweig, HMF
Department of Cardiology and Comprehensive Care, REH
Department of Cardiology and Comprehensive Care, AMSS
Keywords:
military personnel, marriage, spouses, risk factors, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, military duty status, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, active duty military personnel, clinically significant emotional abuse, socioecological model
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Grant Number: R01 1R49CE00091901