Exploring the experiences and impacts of interpersonal violence affecting Veterans and their families

The purpose of this research is to reveal the experiences and impacts of interpersonal violence affecting Veterans and their families, taking into account the unique facets of military family life, service-related imperatives, and mental health-related factors. Help-seeking behaviours undertaken by military and Veteran families experiencing interpersonal violence and related outcomes will also be identified. Data collection and analysis will proceed through application of a phenomenological approach involving in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15-20 adult family members of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans who are affected by interpersonal violence. Integration of the critical-ecological framework within all phases of the study will ensure that the contexts embodied within the lived experiences of participants will be examined and that recommendations for program and policy development within VAC developed.