Adjustment among youth in military families: The protective roles of effortful control and maternal social support
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Morris, A. S., & Age, T. R. (2009). Adjustment among youth in military families: The protective roles of effortful control and maternal social support. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(6), 695-707. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2009.01.002
Abstract Created by REACH:
This study examined the relation between adolescents’ coping, ability to regulate emotions (called “effortful control” in this study), parental support, and adjustment as reflected in their conduct problems and emotional symptoms. The authors compared adolescents with parents who had returned from deployment in the past year to those who had not experienced a parental deployment in the past year.
Focus:
Children
Deployment
Mental health
Parents
Youth
Branch of Service:
Navy
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Child of a service member or veteran
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Methodology:
Empirical Study
Authors:
Morris, Amanda S., Age, Tolonda R.
Abstract:
This study examined coping, effortful control, and mental health among 65 youth (ages 9–15) residing in families where at least one parent was serving in the United States military. Parents provided basic demographic and deployment information. Youth reported on their coping, effortful control, and adjustment using standardized self-report measures. Results indicate that youth residing in military families report elevated levels of conduct problems according to established clinical norms. However, study findings also indicate that effortful control and maternal support act as important protective factors against the development of conduct problems and emotional symptoms, whereas avoidant coping is associated with greater emotional symptoms. No significant differences emerged among youth of recently deployed versus non-deployed parents. Findings are discussed in light of current stressors on military youth and families, and in terms of their implications for successful intervention and prevention programming.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Elsevier Science
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, ASM
Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, TRA
Keywords:
social support, adjustment, effortful control, military youth and families
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary