The significance of military contexts and culture for understanding family well-being: Parent life satisfaction and adolescent outcomes
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
DeGraff, A. N., O'Neal, C. W., & Mancini, J. A. (2016). The significance of military contexts and culture for understanding family well-being: Parent life satisfaction and adolescent outcomes. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(10), 3022-3033. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0471-0
Abstract Created by REACH:
Military culture and support may influence military families well-being. By having 236 military families with at least one adolescent complete surveys about formal and informal support they received from the military, researchers examined the relationships among perceived support, life satisfaction, and adolescent outcomes. Results highlighted the importance of military support on military family well-being.
Focus:
Children
Other
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Child of a service member or veteran
Military families
Spouse of service member or veteran
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Empirical Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
DeGraff, Alycia N., O’Neal, Catherine Walker, Mancini, Jay A.
Abstract:
Formal systems and informal networks are presumed to be significant contexts that affect military families. Their effects on both parents and adolescents in active duty military families are examined (N = 236 families). Social organization and contextual model of family stress theories are employed as frameworks for the analyses of how dimensions of military culture influence parents’ life satisfaction, as well as key developmental outcomes of their adolescents (for example, mental health). Key findings from our analyses included a positive relationship between parents support from military leaders and fellow soldiers and parental well-being findings revealed the importance of civilian parents’ satisfaction with military life on adolescent outcomes for families that have experienced stressful military contexts. These findings provide support for the significance of multiple contexts for understanding resilience among military members and their families.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Springer
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, 204 Family Science Center II, Athens, GA, AND
Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, CWO
Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, JAM
Keywords:
military, resilience, family, community contexts, support networks
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
US Department of Agricultre