Stress Adds to Domestic Violence

[unhappycamper]

Stress Adds to Domestic Violence
Air Force Print News | October 29, 2007

WASHINGTON -- While stress is not the sole cause, it can be a major contributor to domestic violence among Air Force members and their families, according to Air Force family advocacy experts.

In 2006, there were 3,914 reports of domestic abuse involving Airmen as either the victim or offender. Of those, 50 percent met Air Force criteria for maltreatment of a spouse or intimate partner, and 40 cases reported to family advocacy representatives involved sexual assault or abuse of a spouse or intimate partner.

As the month of October comes to a close, Air Force officials also wrap up this month's stress management initiative -- Domestic Violence Awareness -- highlighting programs available to help Airmen better cope with the risk factors that may increase the likelihood of domestic violence or abuse.

Family Advocacy is the Air Force program responsible for domestic violence treatment and prevention. In conjunction with other base helping agencies, the program provides a range of treatment options for victims and offenders including group, individual, couple and family formats.

"We talk about domestic violence in terms of risk factors present in relationships," said Pamela Collins, an Air Force family advocacy program treatment manager. "Some of the most common risk factors for domestic violence include a history by the offender of violent or emotionally abusive behavior toward a partner, child, pet or any other person. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

"Other risk factors are jealousy, stalking, abuse of power and control in the relationship, abuse of alcohol or drugs, witnessing or experiencing violence as a child, or reporting high levels of stress or depression," she said.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,155057,00.html

[BridgeTheGap]

1. This is news? Who doesn't know this?

Stress is a major killer, implicated in many physical illnesses. It only makes sense that it effects us in other ways too.