Premilitary Intimate Partner Conflict Resolution in a Navy Basic Trainee Sample

Abstract

This study investigated the rates of intimate partner verbal and physical violence (inflicted and received) and the rates of physical injury inflicted by the intimate partner that were reported by 2,987 female and male Navy basic trainees who voluntarily completed self-report questionnaires during the first week of training. The rates of intimate partner physical violence reported by the trainees were at the upper end of the range of rates reported by college students. More female (46.9%) than male (31.9%) trainees reported at least one instance of inflicting physical violence. In addition to a higher absolute frequency of physical violence, women reported significantly higher physical violence scores, which indicated that women used physical violence at a higher rate than men. Nevertheless, substantially more women (24.9%) than men (9.0%) reported being physically injured by an intimate partner, supporting the view that the consequences of intimate partner physical violence are more serious for women.