The Role of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Negative Affect in Predicting Substantiated Intimate Partner Violence Incidents Among Military Personnel

Abstract

Abstract Increasing rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military populations during recent conflicts have sparked concerns regarding the incidence of other commonly associated problems, such as intimate partner violence (IPV). From a clinical perspective, it is important to understand patterns of PTSD symptomology that may indicate heightened risk for such aggression. To address this, among a longitudinal cohort of U.S. military personnel, we evaluated the association of PTSD symptom clusters and comorbid conditions as predictors of any subsequent Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program incidents of IPV meeting full definitional criteria for physical or psychological abuse. Results suggested that general symptoms of negative affect common in PTSD (e.g., anger/irritability, sleep disruption) and comorbid alcohol dependence were stronger predictors of IPV than trauma-specific PTSD symptomology (e.g., reexperiencing, hypervigilance). Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.