Experiences of parental PTSD for children aged 9–17 in military and emergency first responder families
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
May, K., Van Hooff, M., Doherty, M., & Carter, D. (2023). Experiences of parental PTSD for children aged 9–17 in military and emergency first responder families. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32, 3816–3834. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02669-y
Abstract Created by REACH:
This qualitative study explored the experiences of Australian youth whose parents were former military or emergency first responders with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), focusing on possible trauma transmission from parent to child. Interviews were conducted with children (n = 7), former military/ emergency first responder parents (i.e., service parents; n = 5), and coparents of service parents (n = 5). Four themes were identified that described child and family experiences in the context of parental PTSD.
Focus:
Mental health
Parents
Children
Trauma
Branch of Service:
International Military
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Child of a service member or veteran
Military families
Veteran
Other
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Qualitative Study
Cross-Sectional Study
Authors:
May, Karen, Van Hooff, Miranda, Doherty, Matthew, Carter, Drew
Abstract:
This study is the first to examine the experiences of children aged 9–17 who have a military or emergency first responder (EFR) parent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These experiences of children are important to understand through a lens of intergenerational trauma theory, given the high rates of PTSD in these service populations. Additionally, we need to know if they differ from the experiences of children of civilian parents with PTSD. To examine this, we conducted a total of 17 in-depth interviews in Australia with 5 service parents, 5 co-parents and 7 children aged 9–17 who have a parent who had formerly served in the military or an emergency service. Interviewees were not always from the same family. The families included single-parent, dual-parent, separated, and same-sex families. Gender and service type (military or EFR) were evenly distributed among interviewees. We used a critical humanist approach and undertook a reflexive thematic analysis of the interview data. The major themes were (1) parental emotional extremes, volatility, and unpredictability, (2) changes in home and family relations, (3) impacts on child wellbeing, and (4) PTSD awareness and help-seeking. We found evidence of specific impacts for children related to a combination of parental PTSD symptoms and service conditioning and culture. This study highlights the role of reduced parental capacity in the transmission of trauma from parent to child. It provides an evidence base to direct policy and research into targeted and culturally specific therapeutic interventions and support services for children and parents in service families living with PTSD.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
childhood experiences, emergency first responder, military parent, ptsd
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
REACH Newsletter: