Discusses factors that most influence the adjustment of the child to parent absence in military families. Interactional patterns between family members that affect children (preschoolers to adolescents) during the predeployment, deployment, and postdeployment stages are delineated. Preventive measures that have been found to be helpful for parents to use to minimize the negative effects of parent absence are given. How the military could further minimize the impact of deployment separation on children is examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
Family separations are an intrinsic part of military life. The temporary loss of a family member through deployment brings unique stresses to a family in three different stages: predeployment, survival, and reunion. Most families adapt to these stresses well. In families without adequate coping skills, however, these stresses can lead to problems which the family presents to the health care system. Health care providers must be aware of these stresses, the high-risk families, their clinical manifestations, and techniques for preventing and treating them. This article provides some help for health care providers dealing with these issues.
Increasing levels of stress in the daily lives of adolescents is an important health concern. Adolescents experience a variety of stressful situations and use a wide range of coping strategies to help effectively manage stress. Recent research on adolescent coping with stressful situations is reviewed. Findings support an association between coping and adolescent health problems, chronic physical illness, and mental health. More research is needed to investigate the long-term benefits of coping with stress on adolescent health and well-being. Specific recommendations for helping adolescents cope with stressful situations are discussed. Health care providers are encouraged to assess how adolescents cope with acute and chronic stressors and provide adolescents with information about coping with stressful situations., (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a relationship
between childhood adversity and health outcomes in adulthood. The military
represents a segment of the young working population that faces unique hazards
that may be worsened by previous adverse life experiences. To date, no
comprehensive studies of childhood adversity have been conducted with military
samples that have included combat troops before and after a combat deployment.
METHODS: Surveys were administered in 2003 to 4529 male soldiers who had not
deployed to
Present evidence from an ongoing study of marital partners who as members of National Guard or military reserve units were separated from their spouses and deployed overseas during Operation Desert Storm (1)
Reviews literature that covers the impact of war on children and developmental factors, gender differences, familial issues, and media effects. The evidence indicates that children feel the effects of war even if it is in another country. They may suffer from deployment of loved ones, and they may suffer greater turmoil from the impact of war than other stressful life events. Recommendations are given for helping children deal with their fears through art or drawing therapy, role playing, and journal writing. Individual counseling is seen as more appropriate than group therapy in highly stressed individuals. Moral issues may also need to be addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (1)
The general public has become increasingly interested in the
health and well being of the children and families of military service members
as the war in
Families of those in the
The author was an Army wife for almost 25 years so she
experienced separations, frequent moving, living overseas, and, because her
husband had two
Symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress are among the most studied psychological difficulties among soldiers. Such symptoms have been linked to a history of adverse events among both civilians and combat veterans. There is a paucity of research on this topic that can be applied to an active duty clinical population. Intake screening data were reviewed for 1,626 soldiers presenting to an outpatient mental health clinic to identify variables, including history of potentially traumatic experiences, associated with screened symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Demographics such as age, gender, and military rank, as well as number of adverse childhood experiences were significant predictors of screened PTSD and depression. A history of deployment to a combat zone predicted screened PTSD, but not depression. The role of childhood abuse as a risk factor is discussed and highlighted in the etiology of symptoms for soldiers seeking mental health care. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (1)
Context: Parental stress is believed to play a critical role in child maltreatment, and deployment is often stressful for military families. Objective: To examine the association between combat-related deployment and rates of child maltreatment in families of enlisted soldiers in the US Army who had 1 or more substantiated reports of child maltreatment. Design and Setting: Descriptive case series of substantiated incidents of parental child maltreatment in 1,771 families of enlisted US Army soldiers who experienced at least 1 combat deployment between September 2001 and December 2004. Main Outcome Measures: Conditional Poisson regression models were used to estimate rate ratios (RRs) that compare rates of substantiated child maltreatment incidents during periods of deployment and nondeployment. Results: A total of 1,858 parents in 1,771 different families maltreated their children. In these families, the overall rate of child maltreatment was higher during the times when the soldier-parents were deployed compared with the times when they were not deployed (942 incidents and 713,626 days at risk during deployments vs 2,392 incidents and 2.6 million days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 1.42 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.31 - 1.54]). During deployment, the rates of moderate or severe maltreatment also were elevated (638 incidents and 447,647 days at risk during deployments vs 1421 incidents and 1.6 million days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.45-1.77]). The rates of child neglect were nearly twice as great during deployment (761 incidents and 470,657 days at risk during deployments vs 1407 incidents and 1.6 million days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.77-2.14]); however, the rate of physical abuse was less during deployments (97 incidents and 80,033 days at risk during deployments vs 451 incidents and 318,326 days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.58-0.93]). Among female civilian spouses, the rate of maltreatment during deployment was more than 3 times greater (783 incidents and 382,480 days at risk during deployments vs 832 incidents and 1.2 million days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 3.33 [95% CI,-2.98-3.67]), the rate of child neglect was almost 4 times greater (666 incidents and 303,555 days at risk during deployments vs 605 incidents and 967,362 days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 3.88 [95% CI, 3.43-4.34]), and the rate of physical abuse was nearly twice as great (73 incidents and 18,316 days at risk during deployments vs 141 incidents and 61,105 days at risk during nondeployment; RR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.33-2.49]). Conclusions: Among families of enlisted soldiers in the US Army with substantiated reports of child maltreatment, rates of maltreatment are greater when the soldiers are on com bat-related deployments. Enhanced support services may be needed for military families during periods of increased stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract). (1)
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if
having a partner deployed during wartime increased the stress levels in pregnant
women and altered their attitudes toward pregnancy. Methods: We administered a
cross-sectional survey of all military and civilian women attending the
antenatal clinic at
Approximately
1.8 million children in the
Hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and depression, as well as developmental delays and physical abnormalities, upon already stressed military families. This chapter reviews the most common examples of each of these stressors in the lives of military families, the effects of these stressors upon their children, and the influence of these stressors on assessments and treatments by therapists who work with this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
Although researchers have documented the psychological and physiological ramifications military-induced separation has had on the family members of military men, little is known about the effects of such separations on men married to navy women, an increasing phenomenon as the numbers of women in active-duty military swells. This research describes the experiences of 5 men who are the caretakers of their children when their wife is deployed. Using phenomenological methodology, interview transcripts were analyzed by identifying recurrent themes relevant to the experience of being the sole caregiver. Themes were then used to develop individual and group descriptions of their experience. Interviews with these men suggested that military-induced separation from their Navy wives meant developing strengthened paternal bonds with their children and embracing their roles as primary caretakers. The men needed to adjust to the additional stress of single parenting and develop a more rigid structure and routine. They also expressed less role strain than expected. The men in this study redefined masculinity in a community that is composed of traditional male and female roles and illuminated the reconstruction or redefinition of what contemporary masculinity means. Traditionally, family support systems within military communities have catered to the needs of the female spouse and children. The results of this study can be used to heighten awareness of a growing need to recognize and implement supports for an underserved male population (stay-at-home spouses of deployed Navy wives). Understanding the experience of the stay-behind male will provide the directors of the military support systems and community counselors with the understanding they will need to assist these males and their families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (2)
Military children face situations that are unique. Their parents may be deployed at any time, causing separations and reorganization of the family. How to assist these children lead their lives despite constant change and threat to the family is an understudied area. This article presents a potential consultation model to assist military children to remain in school and to stay motivated. By supporting the mental and emotional health of the children, the academic work could be more consistent. A consultee-centered approach is reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract). (1)
Current military conflicts have increased the deployment of military personnel, most of whom are married. Little research has been conducted examining the effects of deployment on children. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there were any differences in the level of internal distress and personal adjustment in children from military families who has a parent deployed as compared to children whose parent is not currently deployed. Cognitive appraisal theory and the theory of fear acquisition guided the study. Participants (ages 9-10) included 31 children from Army families and 11 children from Air Force families. Standardized instruments used include the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2), the Life Events Checklist (LEC), and the Draw a Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance (DAP: SPED). Data were analyzed using independent T tests and correlations. The results suggested that the two groups did not differ statistically on the three measures used. The children in both groups endorsed clinical and developmental indicators of distress on the critical items on the BASC-2. There was a significant correlation between parent and child scores on the Internalizing Problems scale from the BASC-2. On the LEC, the overall sample of children noted that deployment is a negative life event and that the current environment is highly stressful. Implications for social change include improved prevention programming that is coordinated between existing military family support services and schools. By better serving these children who are potentially at risk for emotional problems, the military, as well as the families who serve, would be strengthened. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
Using
a strategy involving multiple raters and instruments, the authors compared 134
clinic subjects with controls matched on sex, age, and socioeconomic status to
determine how various risk factors are related to clinic utilization apart from
their effects on children's symptomatology. Parental
psychopathology, family size, and marital status were most predictive of
children's symptom levels, while stress levels, family size, and marital status
were most predictive of clinic utilization. Although children's total symptom
levels explained 27.6% of the variance in clinic utilization, other factors
(family size, family history of divorce, stress, and parental psychopathology)
explained an additional 13.2% of the variance. Findings indicate that clinicians
and health care planners must carefully assess variables other than children's
symptom levels in order to better understand children's mental health services
utilization, develop more robust models of risk, and increase the effectiveness
of our efforts directed towards prevention and intervention.
The authors compared 134 6- to 12-year-old children from a military psychiatric clinic with a control sample to determine the salience of various risk factors in predicting levels of child psychopathology. Parents provided demographic information and completed standardized questionnaires on themselves and their children, while children completed two self-report symptom inventories. Results indicated that all hypothesized risk factors mediated effects on child psychopathology, but the effects of various risk factors differed as a function of the rater and type of psychopathological construct being measured. Generally, parental psychopathology and life stress mediated the greatest effects on overall child symptoms levels. Furthermore, the clinical and community samples differed in the presence and extent of risk factors. Results indicate the need for caution in studies of child psychopathology using only clinical samples and may suggest the importance of therapies based on environmental manipulations for a substantial proportion of patients seeking child psychiatric assistance. (1)
The effects of fathers' absences during the previous year on 213 military children were examined, using multiple measures of children's functioning and psychiatric symptoms. Children whose fathers had been absent 1 or more months during the previous 12 months experienced significantly higher self-reported depression and anxiety, but these symptoms were not apparent to adult observers (parents and teachers). These effects were not demonstrated when maternal psychiatric symptoms and intercurrent family stressors were controlled. Thus, the effects of father absence under routine conditions in relatively healthy samples may exert no significant effects independent of intervening family stressors or maternal psychopathology. Clinic referrals of children during times of father absence may partly be due to an effect of additional stressors impacting on the mother during the absence of the father. (1)
Studied the effects of
Because
concerns have been raised about high levels of psychopathology in military
children, the authors used standardized psychopathology rating scales to survey
213 six-to twelve-year-old children of military parents and their parents. Results from children's symptom self-reports, as well as from
teachers' ratings of children, indicated that children's symptom levels were at
levels consistent with national norms. In contrast, parents' (especially
mothers') ratings of children were significantly higher than national norms, as
were parents' ratings of their own symptoms. Also, parents' own symptom reports
showed somewhat stronger relationships with life stressors presumably affecting
the child than did the children's and teachers' reports. Results suggest that
parents' reports of children's symptoms may be mediated by the effects of
military life stressors on the parents, but these stressors do not necessarily
result in higher symptoms in the children. Overall results do not support the
notion that levels of psychopathology are greatly increased in children of
military parents. Further studies of military families should address the
effects of rank and socioeconomic status, housing, and the current impact of
life stressors on the parents as well as the children in order to avoid drawing
erroneous conclusions about parts or all of the military community.
Examined the responses of 118 US Navy deploying mothers on the Parenting Stress Index, the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale, the Parenting Dimensions Inventory, and on 2 subscales of the Family Environment Scale. Parenting and family functioning were affected by point in the mothers' deployment cycle and marital status. Women anticipating a deployment reported significantly higher levels of parenting stress and more sensitivity to children than those who had recently returned from deployment. Single mothers reported more separation anxiety, less family cohesiveness, and less family organization than did married mothers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (1)
71 Navy mothers (aged 20-47 yrs) of 6-mo- to 8-yr-olds were interviewed before and after a scheduled deployment. Overall intentions to reenlist did not differ between the 2 groups. Results show that women who experienced deployment are more likely than women in the nondeploying control group to report commitment to a Navy career as a reason for planning to stay in the Navy. Women in the control group, however, more often report dissatisfaction with the Navy as a reason for planning to leave the military. Women in both groups are less likely to report commitment to a Navy career as a rationale for reenlistment intentions in the time between the initial and final assessment. Commitment to a Navy career, satisfaction with benefits, and a perception that workday separations may benefit children predict intentions to reenlist at the initial assessment. Dissatisfaction with the Navy, concerns about balancing a Navy career with family responsibilities, and higher commitment to the motherhood role predict intentions to leave the military. Significant predictors of reenlistment intentions at the final assessment were Time 1 reenlistment intentions, commitment to a Navy career, satisfaction with benefits, work-family concerns, and dissatisfaction with the military. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (1)
Examined whether children with Navy mothers exhibit higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior than children in civilian families and whether deployment affects children's internalizing and externalizing behavior. Navy mothers (aged 20-47 yrs) who experienced deployment completed a measure assessing children's (aged 8 mo to 8 yrs) internalizing and externalizing behavior before and after a deployment (and at similar intervals for the Navy and civilian comparison groups). Data collection took place between 1996 and 1998. Navy children with deployed mothers exhibited higher levels of internalizing behavior than children with nondeployed Navy mothers. Navy children whose mothers experienced deployment were more likely to exhibit clinical levels of internalizing behavior than Navy children with nondeployed mothers or civilian children. Group differences, however, were modest and overall mean scores were in the normal range. Findings do not suggest greater pathology in children of Navy mothers; however, findings do indicate we should be particularly attentive of deployed mothers and their children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
Military service requires a commitment that extends beyond the work environment. A military career involves hectic and indeterminate schedules, temporary separations due to training, deployments with little or no notice, frequent and sometimes undesired relocations, and threats to the military member's safety. As Bowen (1989) notes, there are few civilian organizations that require a similar level of dedication to duty and such an extent of commitment from their employees. Although both single and married military parents cope with extraordinary work demands, for single military parents, the requirements of a military career may require more complex strategies to meet these demands. By tailoring research and programs to meet the needs of single military parents, the military organization can more effectively support the individual service members, their children, and, indirectly, the functioning of their units. Single military parents are, on average, a particularly committed group of individuals who must balance the demands of single parenthood with the demands of the military while accessing resources and solving day-to-day problems without much support from another parent--all skills that are likely to be valued in any military organizational setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (2)
61 mothers (mean age 32.5 yrs) with 5-13 yr old children completed measures of depressive behavior, dysphoria, self-esteem, and children's behavior before, during, and after a peacetime or wartime military-induced separation from their husbands. Mothers of younger children reported lower self-esteem than did mothers of older children. Maternal depressive behavior significantly decreased over time during a routine separation. Maternal adjustment and child behavior differed for wartime and peacetime deployments. Women whose husbands were deployed during the Persian Gulf War reported more dysphoria than did a matched sample of 14 women from the peacetime group. Internalizing and externalizing behavior decreased over time for children whose fathers experienced a routine deployment but stayed the same for children whose fathers were deployed during the Persian Gulf War. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (1)
Data
from 61 mothers of school-age children (5-13 yrs old) were examined before,
during, and after military deployment of their husbands. Mothers completed 3
self-report instruments: the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale
(FACES III), the Parenting Dimensions Inventory, and the Child Behavior
Checklist. Separations resulted in temporary disruptions in families' reported
ability to maintain supportive relationships. Wives of servicemen sent to the
Persian Gulf War reported less nurturance and family cohesiveness, and more
internalizing and externalizing in children, than did those whose husbands'
deployment was routine. (PsycINFO Database Record (c)
2007 APA, all rights reserved).
Objectives:
To examine whether children with Navy mothers exhibit higher levels of
internalizing and externalizing behavior than children in civilian families and
whether deployment affects children's internalizing and externalizing behavior.,
Method: Navy mothers who experienced deployment completed a measure assessing
children's internalizing and externalizing behavior before and after a
deployment (and at similar intervals for the Navy and civilian comparison
groups). Data collection took place between 1996 and 1998., Results: Navy children with deployed mothers exhibited
higher levels of internalizing behavior than children with nondeployed Navy mothers. Navy children whose mothers
experienced deployment were more likely to exhibit clinical levels of
internalizing behavior than Navy children with nondeployed mothers or civilian children. Group differences,
however, were modest and overall mean scores were in the normal range.,
Conclusions: Findings do not suggest greater pathology in children of Navy
mothers; however, findings do indicate we should be particularly attentive of
deployed mothers and their children., Copyright 2001 (C) American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1)
Reviews the book, Military Life: The Psychology of Serving in Peace and Combat (Vols. 1-4) edited by Thomas W. Britt, Amy B. Adler, and Carl Andrew Castro (see records 2006-01631-000, 2006-01725-000, 2006-01726-000, 2006-01728-000). This four-volume set provides a framework for the psychological aspects of serving in the military and serves to enhance our understanding of our fighting forces, to optimize their functioning both personally and occupationally, and to put forth needed future research directions to advance the effectiveness of our service personnel. The volumes are divided into four loosely defined areas: military performance, operational stress, the military family, and military culture. Volume 1: Military Performance includes a hodgepodge of topics such as combat stress; a literature review of disaster response with a brief focus on terrorist attacks; a futuristic chapter on the potential uses of augmented cognition; and chapters on morale, on group cohesion, and with a discussion of modern-day American psychological operations, which is quite an interesting read. But the most important chapters in this volume address the here-and-now performance issues of sleep loss and decision making under stress. Volume 2: Operational Stress looks at the service member's experience from initial indoctrination and training, then addresses deployment issues related to combat stress and prisoners of war, and concludes with chapters on selected organizational responses and topics. The chapters on the Code of Conduct and the psychology of captivity, combat stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were all exceptionally well written. More recently, we have become better attuned to needs of military families, particularly in the context of a changing military force (e.g., increasing numbers of women, single parents, and dual military couples) and Volume 3: The Military Family addresses these salient issues. This entire volume is a must read for anyone providing mental health care or any form of counseling to family members or service members with family responsibilities, as well as for individuals engaged in policy development that affects military families. The volume is essentially a primer on concerns and problems that may arise, as well as the continuous family-related issues that may affect the service member's functioning on a day-to-day basis. Volume 4: Military Culture tackles some of the most difficult challenges that the military faces, such as cultural differences, quality of life, and the impact of recent technological advances, which have resulted in immediate access to news and communication, unheard of in past wars. This volume also addresses some of the more controversial issues faced by the military today, such as women's roles in the military and the issue of homosexuality and military service. Together, these volumes provide a highly useful resource and successfully tackle many of the psychological aspects of military service. These books will enhance the collection of any military library, and they are an excellent overview of many of the major topics in military psychology, particularly for those individuals new to the field. In addition to presenting information related to the current state of military psychology, the four volumes collectively provide for exciting and innovative research directions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved), (C) 2006 by the American Psychological Association (1)
Examined whether prolonged parental deployment is associated with a particular marker of psychiatric morbidity: the admission of a child to a psychiatric hospital. Demographic, medical history, family history, and history of child abuse and social stress data were gathered from 103 Navy and 103 civilian children (aged 4-12 yrs) and adolescents (aged 13-17 yrs). Deployment of the father placed Navy Ss at risk for psychiatric hospitalization, but mainly in non-intact families (59 of 103) where step-parents and single parents were present. Deployment may strain an already vulnerable family structure in selected Navy families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (1)
Military families are placed under a great deal of stress
while serving in the armed forces. In
Literature has generously documented the stress of military
members and their families during deployments in noncombat periods. Deployment
has been shown to increase the needs of family members for health care, both
physical and psychological. The purpose of this study was to describe the health
care needs and perceived stressors of active duty members deployed to
Conducted
2 studies to examine the impact of separation disruptiveness on spouses'
personal distress, their ratings of child behavior, and how perceived distress
is influenced by social supports and attachment style among 117 19-54 yr old
wives (Study 1, conducted just following the cessation of fighting) and 154
wives (Study 2, conducted 6 mo after reunion) of South Carolina Reserve and
National Guard members deployed during Operation Desert Storm. Ss completed
measures of relationship satisfaction, personal distress, life disruption,
parent-child relations, child behavior, and military group support. In Study 1,
separation was correlated with emotional distress for spouses and
internalizing-type behavior problems in children. In Study 2, as in Study 1,
distress was related to family disruption and attachment style, and maternal
distress was highly related to children's behavior during deployment and at
reunion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all
rights reserved).
Independent
variables were control group, child gender and age. Dependent variables were
self-esteem, anxiety, and behavior as measured by the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), the State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the Child Behavior Checklist for Parents
(CBCL), and the Child Behavior Checklist - Teacher's Report Form (TRF). Children
were administered the SEI and the STAIC by their elementary school counselors
before and after the CDP-Group (and at similar intervals for the control group).
Mothers and teachers of participating children completed the CBCL or the TRF,
respectively, before and after the counseling program (and at similar intervals
for children in the control group). Mothers completed the Beck Depression
Inventory and a background information questionnaire at midpoint. Analyses of
variance (ANOVAs) determined that children's functioning did not differ by
gender or by age. Functioning of children who
attended the counseling sessions did not differ from the control group over
time. Although group counseling did not appear to effect children's functioning
over time, children's externalizing behavior was predicted by mother's current
participation in counseling, the father's level of education, the number of
years the child's parents had been married, father's paygrade, and the number of years the father had been in the
military. The child's self-esteem was predicted by the child's level of trait
anxiety; state anxiety was predicted by the mother's self-reported level of
depressive affect. Teacher's reports of the child's level of internalizing
behavior was predicted by the mother's current participation in counseling,
maternal depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights
reserved). (1)
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of
a six-session group counseling intervention for children who had a parent
experiencing military-induced deployment. Participants were 65 children (30
boys, 35 girls) of enlisted military personnel attending elementary schools near
the
Notes
that children from military families increasingly are facing separation from a
significant other as their parents are deployed to military or war situations
around the world. This article contains some common childhood emotional
responses to separation based on the developmental level of the child (infants,
toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents). Some nursing and
other interventions individuals can implement to help children of all ages
adjust to separations from their parents are described. Along with specific
suggestions, the article lists some broad concepts such as helping children to
express their feelings, supporting the remaining parent or caregiver, and
encouraging family members to keep lines of communication open. The article
closes with some suggestions for mental health services or preventive services.
(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights
reserved).
Describes the debate over whether or not military children and military families have a greater incidence of psychopathology than their civilian counterparts (from the chapter) current services and future needs
War has a profound emotional impact on military personnel and
their families, but little is known about how deployment-related stress impacts
the occurrence of child maltreatment in military families. This time-series
analysis of
This section hopes to outline the broad range of psychiatry
practiced in the military today. This is an enormous and complex subject, and so
areas most pertinent for civilian and VA psychiatrists will be highlighted. The
specific focus will be on Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), soldiers returning from
that conflict, and their families. "Treatment of the Stress Casualty during
Operation Iraqi Freedom One" is written by two Army psychiatrists who deployed
early in OIF. "Psychiatric Interventions with Returning Soldiers at Walter Reed"
focuses on the mental health issues of the wounded soldier as they pass through Landstuhl and Walter Reed. "Re-Entry and
Reintegration: Returning Home After Combat" is written
from the perspective of psychiatrists at
Studies examining such concepts as self-efficacy,
self-concept, and social competence have provided evidence for how individuals
cope with stressful life events, thus maintaining adaptive functioning. Past
research has hypothesized the military lifestyle, replete with frequent
relocations and separations from a deployed parent, a rigid conforming
community, and discrimination from those outside the military community, may be
damaging to the psychological well-being of children. Resources such as
self-efficacy, self-concept, and social competence have been shown in the
research literature to be important in mitigating the negative impact of a
stressful environment upon psychological well-being and may be important in the
resilience of military children. Participants (N=720, ages 19-22) were recruited
from the
The
purpose of this study was to examine the level of maternal separation anxiety
and general anxiety of deployed Air Force single parent mothers in relation to
military deployment and retention. The study also assessed the affect of
deployment on the reenlistment intentions and rationale of Air Force single
parent mothers. Sixty-nine Air Force single custodial parent mothers from the
Headquarters Air Force Material Command, who had physical custody of their
children, were administered Web-based surveys. There were two groups in the
study. The first group consisted of 20 Air Force single parent mothers who were
scheduled for deployment within 30 to 180 days for a period of six months; the
second group consisted of 49 single parent mothers who were not scheduled for
deployment. The results of the study indicated there was no significant
difference in the level of separation anxiety, separation effects, and
employment-related concerns of deploying and non-deploying Air Force single
parent mothers. However, Air Force single parent mothers experienced a greater
level of separation anxiety and employment related concerns than Army single
military fathers, but there were no significant difference in separation
effects. The study also suggested that Air Force single parent mothers and Army
military fathers had similar emotions and concerns when balancing a career and a
family during deployment and separation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights
reserved). (2)
Studied psychological symptom profiles on 1,601 children of
soldiers deployed during
Examined issues of anticipation, separation, and reunion in
families with military personnel deployed overseas. Stress traditionally arising
from the events of deployment has been compounded in the last 3 decades through
an increased prevalence of dual-career military couples, married personnel,
personnel with children, and military wives working out of the home. The cases
of James, a military serviceman for 29 yrs, and Patricia, experiencing her first
overseas deployment, show how the
Children
and adolescents of deployed soldiers require preventive and sometimes remedial
service from school counselors, because deployment taxes coping skills and
exacerbates normal developmental challenges. This article reviews the cultural
and developmental context for children with deployed caregivers and outlines a
ten session, hybrid psychoeducational-counseling group
designed to increase student knowledge (e.g., emotional cycles of deployment),
build student competencies (e.g., coping skills, mastery of developmental
tasks), and promote a safe environment to express emotions with connected peers.
(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights
reserved)
This exploratory study investigates perceived levels of family stress for 253 military families who have a young child with a disability. Two primary areas of study were the sources and levels of stress, and the benefits of resources designed to help families cope. Results of the study indicate an increased level of stress for families when the demands of military life were coupled with the demands of caring for a young child with a disability. Events such as separation from family members, relocation, deployment, and personal safety and health issues emerged as concerns of the military personnel. The importance of coordinating services for these families is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
The potential for war is a pervasive threat to the security and family structure of children in military families. This study compared children of active-duty, reserve, and civilian families with respect to their perceptions of war, origin of fears related to war, levels of manifest anxiety, coping strategies, and projection of emotional problems in human figure drawings. Findings regarding the adaptation of children in military families are discussed, and the need for further research from children's perspectives is highlighted., (C) 2001 by the American Psychological Association (1)
This qualitative study investigated the experiences of latency children and their families when a reservist father was deployed during wartime. The study also examined some of the family dynamics that occur in reservist families during a wartime deployment. Data was collected through the use of semi-structured individual interviews with latency boys, ages seven to eleven, and then similar semi-structured interviews with the children's families. Two themes were most salient in both the individual and family interviews. First, the theme emerged that the sons were "little soldiers." The role of "little soldiers" is to keep dynamics status quo, making sure to keep things normal, not add to the chaos and difficulty, follow rules to the best of their ability, and to distract the family in difficult times. Additionally, this theme highlights that the sons in this study were cast into the role of taking care of other members of their family and keeping their own worries and concerns to themselves. Another salient theme related to the use of ritual to maintain balance during the deployment. Each family in this study was able to create a new ritual that involved all remaining members of the household, in an effort to establish a new sense of balance and routine. The theme of sons as little soldiers is consistent with the current literature on active-duty family dynamics. This study also illustrates the lack of identity that these reservist families experienced, feeling caught between the military and civilian worlds. Aspects of their daily experiences mimic experiences of both military and civilian lifestyles. However, the experiences of the families in this study were unique because the military and civilian lifestyles intermingled during the deployment, creating cognitive dissonance around their identity and sense of belonging. The literature does not currently address cognitive dissonance in military reservist families during wartime deployments. Further research in the area of reservist families and their family dynamics is needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
Nearly 500 wives, married to enlisted soldiers who deployed
to
This journal article describes the life of children in the
wake of the military invasion of
"Emotional Aftermath of the Persian Gulf War" explores the impact of war from a unique perspective--it addresses not only the effect of trauma on soldiers in combat but also the toll war takes on families and communities as a whole. (1)
The authors focus on the experience of servicemembers and of their families in response to deployment, separation, loss, and reintegration after the war. They discuss the treatment of combat casualties, those with and without psychiatric illness, who were rapidly returned home still in the acute stage of their injuries. The authors emphasize providing the best support, both medically and psychologically, for military personnel and their families for the essential mental health and effectiveness of the fighting force and the improved quality of life of individual people. The special needs of families and of reserve and guard members are considered, and models of community outreach programs for coping with the stressors of war are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved). (1)
Describes a model developed to ease the crisis situation presented for all family members by forced separation of a parent from the family because of military service. A series of children's single-session briefings involved talking with parents and children in a large group, talking with children in small groups while their parents observed, and a large group discussion with parents. Children were encouraged to express feelings related to separation, and parents were assisted in developing strategies for coping with the family changes resulting from the deployments. Children's briefings were organized pre-, mid-, and post-deployment and utilized lectures, slides, and coloring books. The groups were led by 2 clinical social workers and a chaplain. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) as a psychosocial screening instrument. Using the PSC, the researchers screened 212 patients, ages 6-12 years, at a military outpatient pediatric clinic. Twenty-one children with scores in the "high-risk" range were randomly selected and matched with children scoring in the normal, "not-high-risk" range. Two trained interviewers, blind to individual PSC scores, independently interviewed and rated each subject's level of psychosocial functioning on the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a standardized psychosocial measure, was also completed by each subject's mother. PSC scores were compared to the CGAS and CBCL scores in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Additional analyses compared data from the study sample with that of previous studies. Results suggest that the PSC is a valid pediatric psychosocial screening instrument for multiethnic patient populations. (1)
For decades, empirically tested youth interventions have prevented dysfunction by addressing risk and ameliorated dysfunction through treatment. The authors propose linking prevention and treatment within an integrated model. The model suggests a research agenda: Identify effective programs for a broadened array of problems and disorders, examine ethnicity and culture in relation to intervention adoption and impact, clarify conditions under which programs do and do not work, identify change mechanisms that account for effects, test interventions in real-world contexts, and make tested interventions accessible and effective in community and practice settings. Connecting the science and practice of prevention and treatment will be good for science, for practice, and for children, adolescents, and their families., (C) 2005 by the American Psychological Association (1)
This article describes an exploratory study of stress reactions experienced by adult dependents separated from family members involved in the Persian Gulf War. The majority of respondents reported loneliness and anxiety along with strong feelings of pride and patriotism. Most of the sample reported a strong need for additional support groups. Separation reactions were related to age, ethnicity, education, expected and actual lengths of the current separation, and number and duration of prior military separations., (C) 1991 by the American Psychological Association