Identifying Opportunities to Address Child Abuse and Neglect in U.S. Army Families
Abuse and neglect are serious concerns for all children, but military families may have unique needs that complicate efforts to prevent abuse and intervene on behalf of those who are at risk. For the more than 50 percent of Armed Forces members who are parents, deployment can introduce serious stress within their families. Little is known, however, about how this stressful period surrounding deployment can impact children's risk for abuse and neglect.
In this Research at a Glance brief, Doug Strane, MPH, and Dr. David Rubin highlight their research showing when in the period surrounding deployment children of U.S. Army soldiers are at greatest risk for abuse and neglect, as well as what characteristics of soldiers and children most influence the risk of child maltreatment.