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Child Maltreatment Increases When a Parent Is Deployed for Combat

Victims of war include the families of soldiers.

During times of war, military families face tremendous stress. More than 1 million military families in the U.S. have children younger than 18, and some studies suggest that child maltreatment increases during a parent’s deployment. Investigators compared rates of substantiated child maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) during periods of deployment and nondeployment among 1771 families of enlisted U.S. Army soldiers who were combat-deployed to either Afghanistan or Iraq at some time between 2001 and 2004.

A total of 3334 incidents of child maltreatment involving 2968 children and 1858 parents were reported. More than half of offenders (54%) were non-Hispanic white. Civilian mothers were responsible for 83% of abuse offenses during times of deployment, and civilian fathers were responsible for 6%. During periods of nondeployment, soldier fathers were responsible for 54% of abuse incidents, and civilian mothers were responsible for 35%. Abuse occurred nearly equally in boys and girls. Although only 28% of maltreatment incidents occurred during deployment, the rate of child maltreatment was 42% higher than the rate during nondeployment, and the rate of moderate or severe incidents was higher. Rates of maltreatment (especially neglect) by civilian mothers increased significantly (threefold) during deployment of the father; rates of maltreatment by civilian fathers increased, but not significantly, during deployment of the mother. The rate of physical abuse was lower during deployment, but incidents were more severe. Sexual abuse was uncommon and did not differ between deployment and nondeployment periods.

Comment: This study reminds us that the victims of war include soldiers’ families. The study did not examine spousal abuse, and the researchers did not attempt to relate the risks for maltreatment to the duties assigned during deployment. Nonetheless, the message remains important: Pediatricians who care for military dependents must be attentive to parental stress (especially during deployment), advocate for mental health resources for soldiers, and educate parents about stress management.

— F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Published in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine September 12, 2007

Citation(s):

Gibbs DA et al. Child maltreatment in enlisted soldiers’ families during combat-related deployment. JAMA 2007 Aug 1; 298:528-35.

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