Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse among Civilian Partners of UK Military Personnel: Perceptions of the Impact of Military Life and Experiences of Help-seeking and Support - Main Report

Abstract: The project explored the experiences of civilians who were, or are, in abusive intimate relationships with serving personnel and/or veterans (ie ex-serving personnel). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 civilian victim-survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPVA) occurring within relationships with military personnel. These explored the ways in which they perceived the military to have affected their relationships and their experiences of abuse within those relationships, as well as their experiences of accessing and receiving help from military and civilian services. Participant narratives revealed a perception that militaryrelated factors, such as military culture of machismo and hierarchy, the prioritization of the needs of the military over family, reintegration after separation and transitions, and mental health issues can contribute to relationship difficulties and experiences of abuse. The findings of this study additionally highlight the challenges faced by civilian victim-survivors when seeking help for IPVA and how being in an abusive relationship with someone in the military can magnify some of those challenges.