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Impact of military deployment on family relationships

Authors:
  • Central Texas College

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how an active duty member’s increased time away from home (deployments, temporary duty assignments, and trainings) affects family stress as reported by the dependent spouse. Specifically, this research focused on the impact of increased time away from home on the parent—child relationship within the military family. This research analyzed Parenting Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI) scores as reported by the military dependent spouse. Results revealed that extended time away from home can cause the dependent spouse to detach from the parent—child relationship. Mental health professionals and educators working within a community that supports the armed forces must be sensitive to the unique needs of military families during these times of transition.
Impact of Military Deployment on Family Relationships
Kendra N. Lowe, Katharine S. Adams, Blaine L. Browne, and Kerry T. Hinkle
Valdosta State University
Author Note
Kendra N. Lowe is a graduate student in the Department of Psychology and Counseling
at Valdosta State University. Katharine S. Adams, Blaine L. Browne, and Kerry T. Hinkle are
faculty members in the Department of Psychology and Counseling at Valdosta State University.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Katharine S. Adams,
Valdosta
... A notable exception is research on parentadolescent relationship quality in the context of deployment (just one of the military stressors examined in the current study). Research indicates that deployment and reintegration are often difficult times for parent-adolescent relationships due to role-shifting, absence of a parent, and increased stressors (Huebner & Mancini, 2005;Lowe et al., 2012). For example, some adolescents report taking on additional child care responsibilities for younger siblings and more household chores, resulting in shifts to the parent-adolescent relationship with some adolescents feeling more like a co-parent to the civilian parent (Huebner & Mancini, 2005). ...
... For example, some adolescents report taking on additional child care responsibilities for younger siblings and more household chores, resulting in shifts to the parent-adolescent relationship with some adolescents feeling more like a co-parent to the civilian parent (Huebner & Mancini, 2005). Additionally, longer deployments have been associated with lower quality parent-child attachments (as an indicator of parent-child relationship quality) with the civilian parent, indicating that examining relationship quality with both parents is important (Lowe et al., 2012). ...
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... (Chandra et al., 2010;Lowe et al., 2012). The various challenges and transitions that military families face requires resilience, sacrifice, and acceptance above and beyond what is typical for a family (Huebner et al., 2007;Lowe et al., 2012;Palmer, 2008). ...
... . The various challenges and transitions that military families face requires resilience, sacrifice, and acceptance above and beyond what is typical for a family (Huebner et al., 2007;Lowe et al., 2012;Palmer, 2008). The unique duties of the job require a strict adherence to the commands of the military. ...
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... Nykänen, 2020;Nykänen, 2019;Russell, 2019;McAdam, 2018;Pierce, 2017;Groeller, 2015;Sammito, 2014;Santtila, 2009;Sharp, 2008 Mental Fitness emotional and spiritual beliefs Religious, emotional, and spiritual beliefs are salient factors of strategic training to protect the soldiers from trauma, stress, fear, and suicidal thinking. Valor-Segura, 2020; Sullivan, 2020;Park, 2017;Bowles, 2015;Bates, 2013;Padden, 2013;Dunning, 2013;Harms, 2013;Lowe, 2012 Resilience self-identity Social identity in the military is a combination of personal identity (intrinsic characteristics such as personality traits) and social identity (the sense of identifying with whichever group the individual belongs). Darojat, 2020;op den Buijs, 2019;Werner, 2019;Johansen, Rohall, 2014;Griffith, 2013;Meredith, 2011;Coulston 2004;Coulston 2004;Elder Jr, 1989;Tajfel & Turner, 1986;St Denis 1986;Henri, 1986; mental agility Mental agility is the ability of soldiers to anticipate or adapt in the complex and changing situations and think critically to solve uncertain problems. ...
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