The relationship of childhood abuse and early separation from the military among Army advanced individual trainees

Abstract

Objective: To identify the prevalence rates and gender differences of childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse among advanced individual trainees and to determine if soldiers with a history of abuse increasingly separated from the Army before completing the training. Methods: Archival medical records of trainees presented to a military outpatient mental health clinic were analyzed for a history of abuse and separation from the Army. Results: A significant number of soldiers with a history of abuse were discharged from the Army without completing training. Females reported a higher prevalence of abuse than males; however, there was no significant relationship between gender and separation rates. The types of separations differed, with males more likely to be separated for conduct and females more often separated for medical reasons. Conclusion: Childhood abuse had a significant relationship on attrition rates among Army trainees and should be addressed to improve adaptation to the military Copyright © Association of Military Surgeons of the US. All rights reserved.