Military-connected adolescents' coping strategies and psychological well-being: The moderating role of family functioning

Farnsworth, M. L., & O'Neal, C. W. (2024). Military-connected adolescents' coping strategies and psychological well-being: The moderating role of family functioning. Child & Family Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13187

Guided by the contextual model of family stress and the adolescent well-being framework, this study examined the relationships between 3 adolescent coping strategies and wellbeing as well as whether those relationships differed based on levels of family cohesion. In 2013, 266 military families consisting of an active-duty parent, civilian parent, and at least one adolescent child (11–18 years old) completed online surveys about their experience as a military family. Adolescents reported their frequency of engaging in demanding activities (e.g., physical activity), utilizing self-reliance and optimism (e.g., focusing on the good), and venting negative feelings (e.g., yelling) as coping strategies. They also reported their life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms, as indicators of well-being. Civilian parents reported family cohesion (i.e., balancing connection and independence). In general, participating in demanding activities and utilizing self-reliance and optimism were related to greater well-being, while venting negative feelings was not. These associations were consistent regardless of family cohesion levels.

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