Domestic violence, including intimate partner violence and child abuse, is common among veteran and active-duty families. This may be due to the co-occurrence of PTSD and substance misuse, especially alcohol, that are prevalent among service members.

7.1 Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Intimate partner violence consists of verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, including stalking, between current or former intimate partners. Perpetrators have often been victims of IPV, and in some relationships, both partners perpetrate IPV on one another. Examples of IPV include any use of force or coercion, isolation, controlling the partner’s activities or money, embarrassing the victim in front of others to make a point, controlling what the victim wears or where he or she goes, or threatening to harm the victim or loved ones, including pets (DVA, 2024, October 3).

IPV is a serious problem among veterans and their families.  A 2018 study found that 36% of women and 34% of men will experience IPV at some point in their lives. Among veterans and service members, the estimate skyrockets to 58%. Since 2019, the VA has required all VA facilities to have an IPV specialist on hand, but inconsistent training and the lack of standardized program evaluations have led to inconsistent delivery of these specialized services (Spotswood, 2022).

The VA estimates that one-third of women veterans will experience IPV, as opposed to less than a quarter of civilian women. Women veterans who identify as LGBTQ+ are two to three times more likely other women veterans to report IPV. This also drastically increases their rates of housing instability and homelessness (DVA, 2024, October 3). The majority of IPV perpetrators are men, suggesting that “men’s use of violence should comprise a foremost priority for initiatives aiming to reduce the burden of IPV” among service members and veterans (Cowlishaw et al., 2022).

7.2 Child Maltreatment

There are high rates of substance abuse, trauma, and intimate partner violence among active-duty military personnel and veterans. A recent review found that major contributing factors to child maltreatment were parental substance abuse and intimate partner violence. Social support was the most significant protective factor across all maltreatment types except sexual abuse (Younas, Morrison Gutman, 2022).

Many military veterans were abused as children themselves, which often leads to aggression and other maladaptive behaviors in adulthood. PTSD and substance misuse, which are common among the military and veteran populations, are also common contributors to violent behavior (Massa et al., 2022).

The federal definition of child abuse, according to the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum (USDHHS, 2023):

• Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or
• An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

This is a narrow definition, which refers to parents and other caregivers. States and territories may also have definitions of child abuse in their laws. The four most common types of abuse and neglect are (CDC, 2024):

• Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force that can result in physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, or other shows of force against a child.
• Sexual abuse refers to any completed or attempted sexual acts or sexual contact with a child by a caregiver. Examples include fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities. 
• Emotional abuse refers to behaviors that harm a child's self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejecting, and withholding love.
• Neglect is the failure to meet a child's basic physical and emotional needs. These needs include housing, food, clothing, education, access to medical care, and having feelings validated and appropriately responded to.

At least one in seven children experience child abuse or neglect. In 2021, more than 1,800 children in the U.S. died of abuse and neglect. Poverty is a major factor, with poor children experiencing abuse and neglect at five times the rate of those living in more financially comfortable situations. As a public health problem, it is also costly. The total lifetime economic burden associated with substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in the U.S. was around $592 billion in 2018 (Klika et al., 2020).