https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-PextonTRIP

Pexton, S., Farrants, J., & Yule, W. (2018). The impact of fathers’ military deployment on child adjustment. The support needs of primary school children and their families separated during active military service: A pilot study. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 23(1), 110-124. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517724494

The purpose of this study was to compare the psychological well-being (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress, and self-esteem) of two groups of British military children. The combat group (n = 26) consisted of military children whose fathers were deployed to Afghanistan, and the non-combat group (n = 26) consisted of military children whose fathers were deployed for training. Data were collected at three time points: pre-deployment, mid-deployment, and post-deployment. In addition to self-report from children, teachers and non-deployed parents completed child behavior assessments, with parents providing additional data regarding parental well-being and stress. Results indicated that children experiencing both combat and non-combat deployments often showed relatively low levels of depression and behavior problems but experienced clinically significant levels of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance despite their higher than average self-esteem.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517724494

Children
Deployment

International Military

Active Duty

Child of a service member or veteran
Military families

Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)

Longitudinal study

Pexton, Sharon, Farrants, Jacqui, Yule, William

Background: Although direct exposure to war-related trauma negatively impacts children's psychological well-being, little is known about this impact within the context of parental military deployment to a combat zone and indirect experience of the effects of armed conflict. This study investigates the impact of father's military deployment to Afghanistan on child well-being in primary schoolchildren and compares measures of adjustment with a matched group of children with fathers deployed on military training (non-combat) deployment. Method: Data were collected within primary schools in 2011-2012 from 52 children aged 8-11 years with fathers deploying to Afghanistan (n=?26) and fathers deploying on military training (n=26) via self-completion of questionnaires assessing symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress and levels of self-esteem. Data were collected in both groups, at pre-, mid- and post-parental deployment. Class teachers and parents (non-deployed) completed a measure of child behaviour and parents completed a measure of parenting stress and general health. Results: Unexpectedly child adjustment difficulties were not significantly raised in children whose parents deployed to Afghanistan. Ratings of behavioural difficulties and depression were low in both groups. However, clinically elevated levels of anxiety and stress symptoms were reported by both groups of children at each stage of deployment. No associations between parental stress, parental mental health and child adjustment were found. Conclusion: High levels of children's anxiety and stress reported during fathers' active military service warrant further investigation. Implications for school and health monitoring and CAMHS community liaison work are discussed.

Sage Publications

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Psychology, City, University of London, UK, SP
Department of Psychology, City, University of London, UKJF
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK, WY