‘There’s no club, absolutely nothing’: Experiences of parents of veterans living with illnesses and injuries in Canada
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Tam-Seto, L., Norris, D., Richardson, M., Gribble, R., Fear, N. T., & Cramm, H. (2024). ‘There’s no club, absolutely nothing’: Experiences of parents of veterans living with illnesses and injuries in Canada. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 10(2), 130-139. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2023-0061
Abstract Created by REACH:
This phenomenological study explored the experiences of parents who provide care for their adult child who is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veteran with a military-related illness or injury. 15 parents participated in semi-structured interviews. In general, parents reported high levels of stress, guilt, personal consequences related to caring for an adult child with a military-related injury, and lack of support.
Focus:
Veterans
Mental health
Other
Branch of Service:
International Military
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Qualitative Study
Authors:
Tam-Seto, Linna, Norris, Deborah, Richardson, Melissa, Gribble, Rachael, Fear, Nicola T., Cramm, Heidi
Abstract:
Parents of Veterans are often excluded from literature or programs surrounding military and Veteran families. Parents can play an important role in their adult child’s life following an operational stress injury. Little research has been done to look at how supporting an adult child may affect the parents. Parents of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans were interviewed to discuss their experiences supporting an ill or injured adult child. Parents reported taking on many additional responsibilities and often feel worried, guilty, and lost. These demands impacted their own health, well-being, finances, jobs, and relationships. They described feeling forgotten and betrayed by the lack of support and programs available for them. It is important that all parents are given the support and programs required, demonstrating a need for more in-depth explorations of what families of Veterans experience and need in Canada.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
Canadian Armed Forces, CAF, families, family centred, lived experience, mental health, operational stress injury, OSI, parents, support, Veterans
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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