Healthy Relationships Campaign wants to hear military family violence and breakdown stories

By Rachel S. Dunleavy

As part of their “Healthy Relationships” campaign, Military Family Services (MFS) is conducting a study to understand the unique aspects of family violence and marital breakdown in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

This focus on the family’s needs is part of a cultural shift seen in Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy. Military families sharing their stories will help determine the need and potential support provided to CAF families experiencing a marital breakdown and family/gender-based violence.

There are two ways to participate in this research. First, by completing the survey, which is currently active. The second way is through focus groups and individual interviews, which will be held at select locations. More information about focus groups and interview participants will be available at a later date.

Healthy Relationships Campaign

In 2019, with the advent of the Healthy Relationships campaign, the responsibility of military family violence management was transferred from the CAF to MFS. The Healthy Relationships campaign differs from the previous CAF initiatives focused on prevention and reporting.

Instead, the current initiatives focus on addressing and preventing family and gender-based violence by supporting and promoting healthy intimate relationships. This approach considers the impacts of gender, the increased vulnerabilities of military family members due to the military lifestyle and acknowledges the vital role intimate partnerships play in military operations.

What is Family Violence and Breakdown

The study allows for each individual to define these terms for themselves based on their experience. Yet, while the study does not rely on legal definitions of either family violence or family breakdown, it does provide some guidance as to what could be included.

For example, any form of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect of a child or adult experienced by a family member or in an intimate relationship is considered to be family violence. Family breakdown may include separation and divorce, but it also includes significant conflicts between family members.

Prior Research

Noted as long overdue as the last CAF study into family violence was conducted in 2009, and only one exploratory study of CAF marital breakdown was conducted in 2005, both used secondary analysis of previous study data. As a result, there is currently little to none known about post-separation and divorce experience of CAF members or their civilian former spouses/partners.

Issues like intimate partner violence (IPV) in the military and veterans community have been an ongoing topic of research. For example, a paper published by Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families noted, “reports of experiencing physical and sexual IPV is four to five times higher in active duty members compared to civilians. In addition, emotional and financial IPV is two to three times higher in active duty personnel compared to civilians.”

The paper also noted “no studies have been conducted on Veterans.”

Exploring IPV in the military and veteran communities found that military and veteran populations are concerned about it as they experience higher rates of IPV and are at greater risk than the non-military population.

Study Participants

Regular and Reserve Force members, as well as their current or former civilian spouses/partners above the age of 18, are invited to share their stories. To complete the first part of the survey, participants need not have experienced family violence and/or marital breakdown. However, participants that have experience with either family breakdown or family violence or both can complete the entire survey. In addition, participants are asked to note their experiences that have occurred within the last five years.

Unfortunately, the experiences of veterans and current or former civilian spouses/partners or adult children of members or veterans are not being sought in this study.

Completing the Survey

This voluntary and anonymous survey is available in both official languages. The survey features both multiple-choice and written response questions. As such, you should plan on spending approximately 30 – 45 minutes completing the survey. The survey will take less time for participants who have not experienced a family breakdown or family violence.

Due to the sensitive nature of the information sought, it is important to know that participants are in control of what information they share and do not need to answer any questions they do not want to. Participants can withdraw from the study at any time and without reprisal or career implications. Stories in the survey can be noted until the end of January 2023.

Risks in Participating

Participants also control how much personal information they share, so the participation risks are considered low. However, for some participants, completing the survey may cause discomfort.

To assist people with processing any feelings that may arise, a list of free service providers is provided at the end of the survey. There is also a Facebook peer support group for civilian spouses/partners contemplating, experiencing, or having experienced an intimate relationship breakdown, separation, or divorce. Visit here for more information.

To participate in the study, visit here.

And to learn more about the Healthy Relationships Campaign, see the recent article published by the Journal of Military, Veteran, and Family Health here.

Study Oversight

DND/CAF Social Science Research Review Board (SSRRB) approved this study in accordance with DAOD 5062-0 and 5062-1. The SSRRB approval # is 1999/21F. Questions about the study or participation can be directed to Carley Robb-Jackson, Research and Policy Manager at Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services. Email her here.

Rachel S. Dunleavy is a former civilian spouse of a military member. She lives with operational stress injuries from her service as a spouse. She is a mixed-methods artist, graduate student studying Psychotherapy, Spirituality, and Art Therapy, and military-attached civilian researcher and advocate. Her work focuses on the intersections of gender, identity/individuality, and institutionalization of civilian spouses/partners of Canadian military members/veterans; the conflicts of marital and service and gendered duties in civilian-military/ military-military relationships; and the legacies of intergenerational military service.