https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Jensen2021

Jensen, T. M., Bowen, G. L., & King, E. L. (2022). Associations between family maltreatment perpetration and latent profiles of personal and family strengths among active-duty Air Force members. Journal of Family Violence. 37, 407–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00274-5

This study explored whether there are distinct groups of active-duty Service members based on personal (e.g., mental fitness, personal resilience) and familial (e.g., family functioning, relationship satisfaction) strengths. Further, this study examined whether these groups reported differing levels of family maltreatment (i.e., physical or emotional maltreatment of romantic partners and/or children) and intentions to seek services, such as counseling or therapy. Differences within groups based on family type (e.g., stepfamily) were also explored. Data were utilized from 30,187 Service members who participated in the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment Survey, were in a committed relationship, and had at least one child. Five groups emerged from the analyses, and Service members with the fewest strengths (i.e., low group) were the most likely to report family maltreatment and averaged the highest intentions to seek services.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00274-5

Child maltreatment
Couples
Mental health
Parents
Physical health
Trauma

Air Force

Active Duty

Active duty service member

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Secondary Analysis

Jensen, Todd M., Bowen, Gary L., King, Erika L.

Although individual and family strengths have been found to impact family maltreatment risk, optimal approaches to their assessment are lacking. To substantiate the utility of holistically assessing multiple strengths among active-duty Air Force members (i.e., Airmen) who might be at risk of perpetrating family maltreatment, the current study aimed to identify latent patterns of personal and family strengths among Airmen and assess associations with family maltreatment perpetration. A representative a sample of 30,187 Airmen from the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment Survey was used to identify patterns across latent-factor scores representing unit leader support, informal support, family functioning, individual fitness, and personal resilience. Latent profile analysis was conducted to extract an optimal number of response patterns and estimate associations with family maltreatment perpetration. A five-profile solution was optimal, representing patterns marked by low (10%), below average (26%), mixed (16%), above average (36%), and high (12%) levels of personal and family strengths. Predicted probabilities of family maltreatment among families not identifying as stepfamilies were 39%, 21%, 14%, 10%, and 8% across low, below average, mixed, above average, and high patterns, respectively. Among stepfamilies (20% of sample), predicted probabilities were 49%, 29%, 21%, 15%, and 12%, respectively. Findings encourage a holistic assessment of personal and family strengths among Airmen. The Personal and Family Strengths Inventory, which was developed to gauge these strengths, can position practitioners well to engage Airmen in conversations around strengths and growth opportunities for the purposes of service planning aimed at preventing family maltreatment.

Springer

Article
REACH Publication

School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, TMJ
School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, GLB
Air Force Medical Readiness Agency (AFMRA)/Mental Health Division (SGHW), ELK